Evaluation of six single nucleotide polymorphisms for bovine traceability in the context of the argentine-chinese beef trade

Genetic traceability refers to methods associated with the identification of animals and their products through DNA characterization of individuals, breeds or species. To trace breeds, it is necessary to define the breed groups to analyze, and the most appropriate molecular marker set. The selection of genetic markers depends on the gene frequency distribution, the genetic distance among breeds and the presence of private alleles. In this study, we assessed six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the DGAT1, TG, LEP, GH, FABP4 and GnRHR genes, as potential genetic markers to be included into a panel for genetic traceability for the identification of breed origin associated with the bovine beef trade. The results of the genetic characterization of four of the main Chinese cattle populations and of the principal breeds raised in Argentina and in the world (five Bos taurus and two B. indicus) suggest that these SNP markers can be successfully used as a part of an effective traceability system for the identification of cattle breed origin in the context of the Chinese meat imports, and in particular in the Argentine-Chinese beef trade.La trazabilidad genética, la cual se basa en la identificación de animales y sus productos, permite la identificación individual, racial o de especie. Esta metodología es útil para detectar fraudes y valorizar producciones locales. Para llevar a cabo la trazabilidad es necesario definir los grupos raciales a analizar y el panel de marcadores más apropiados a utilizar. La selección de marcadores depende de la distribución de las frecuencias génicas, de la distancia genética entre las razas y de la presencia de alelos privativos. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en evaluar seis polimorfismos de nucleótido simple (SNPs) ubicados en los genes DGAT1, TG, LEP, GH, FABP4 y GnRHR como posibles marcadores genéticos apropiados para ser incluidos en un panel de trazabilidad para la identificación de la raza de origen en el contexto de la comercialización de carne bovina. Los resultados de la caracterización genética de cuatro de las principales poblaciones bovinas chinas y de las razas más importantes de nuestro país (cinco Bos taurus y dos B. indicus) sugieren que los marcadores estudiados pueden ser utilizados exitosamente como parte de un sistema de trazabilidad efectivo para identificar el origen de la carne bovina en el contexto de la importación de carne en el mercado chino y en particular en el comercio entre Argentina y China.Fil: Ripoli, María Verónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Wei, S.. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences; ChinaFil: Rogberg Muñoz, Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Guo, B. L.. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences; ChinaFil: Goszczynski, Daniel Estanislao. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, María Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Melucci, L.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Liron, Juan Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Villarreal, E.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Wei, Y. M.. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences; ChinaFil: Giovambattista, Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ingeniero Fernando Noel Dulout"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentin

Evaluation of six single nucleotide polymorphisms for bovine traceability in the context of the argentine-chinese beef trade

Genetic traceability refers to methods associated with the identification of animals and their products through DNA characterization of individuals, breeds or species. To trace breeds, it is necessary to define the breed groups to analyze, and the most appropriate molecular marker set. The selection of genetic markers depends on the gene frequency distribution, the genetic distance among breeds and the presence of private alleles. In this study, we assessed six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the DGAT1, TG, LEP, GH, FABP4 and GnRHR genes, as potential genetic markers to be included into a panel for genetic traceability for the identification of breed origin associated with the bovine beef trade. The results of the genetic characterization of four of the main Chinese cattle populations and of the principal breeds raised in Argentina and in the world (five Bos taurus and two B. indicus) suggest that these SNP markers can be successfully used as a part of an effective traceability system for the identification of cattle breed origin in the context of the Chinese meat imports, and in particular in the Argentine-Chinese beef trade.La trazabilidad genética, la cual se basa en la identificación de animales y sus productos, permite la identificación individual, racial o de especie. Esta metodología es útil para detectar fraudes y valorizar producciones locales. Para llevar a cabo la trazabilidad es necesario definir los grupos raciales a analizar y el panel de marcadores más apropiados a utilizar. La selección de marcadores depende de la distribución de las frecuencias génicas, de la distancia genética entre las razas y de la presencia de alelos privativos. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en evaluar seis polimorfismos de nucleótido simple (SNPs) ubicados en los genes DGAT1, TG, LEP, GH, FABP4 y GnRHR como posibles marcadores genéticos apropiados para ser incluidos en un panel de trazabilidad para la identificación de la raza de origen en el contexto de la comercialización de carne bovina. Los resultados de la caracterización genética de cuatro de las principales poblaciones bovinas chinas y de las razas más importantes de nuestro país (cinco Bos taurus y dos B. indicus) sugieren que los marcadores estudiados pueden ser utilizados exitosamente como parte de un sistema de trazabilidad efectivo para identificar el origen de la carne bovina en el contexto de la importación de carne en el mercado chino y en particular en el comercio entre Argentina y China.Instituto de Genética Veterinari

Assessing anti-rabies baiting – what happens on the ground?

BACKGROUND: Rabies is one of the most hazardous zoonoses in the world. Oral mass vaccination has developed into the most effective management method to control fox rabies. The future need to control the disease in large countries (i.e. Eastern Europe and the Americas) forces cost-benefit discussions. The 'Increase bait density' option refers to the usual management assumption that more baits per km(2 )could compensate for high fox abundance and override the imperfect supply of bait pieces to the individual fox. METHODS: We use a spatial simulation, which combines explicitly fox space use (tessellation polygons) and aeroplane flight lines (straight lines). The number of baits actually falling into each polygon is measured. The manager's strategic options are converted into changes of the resulting bait distribution on the ground. The comparison enables the rating of the options with respect to the management aim (i.e. accessibility of baits). RESULTS: Above 5% (approx. 10%) of all fox groups without any bait (at most 5 baits) relate to the baiting strategy applied in the field (1 km spaced parallel flight lines, 20 baits per km(2 )distributed) under habitat conditions comparable to middle and western Europe (fox group home-range 1 km(2), 2.5 adults; reference strategy). Increasing the bait density on the same flight-line pattern neither reduces the number of under-baited fox group home-ranges, nor improves the management outcome and hence wastes resources. However, reducing the flight line distance provides a more even bait distribution and thus compensates for missed fox groups or extra high fox density. The reference strategy's bait density can be reduced when accounting for the missed fox groups. The management result with the proper strategy is likely the same but with reduced costs. CONCLUSION: There is no overall optimal strategy for the bait distribution in large areas. For major parts of the landscape, the reference strategy will be more competitive. In situations where set backs are attributed to non-homogeneous bait accessibility the distribution scheme has to be refined zone-based (i.e. increase of the flight line length per unit area). However, increase in bait density above the reference strategy appears inappropriate at least for non-urban abundance conditions of the red fox

Emergency vaccination of rabies under limited resources – combating or containing?

BACKGROUND: Rabies is the most important viral zoonosis from a global perspective. Worldwide efforts to combat the disease by oral vaccination of reservoirs have managed to eradicate wildlife rabies in large areas of central Europe and North-America. Thus, repeated vaccination has been discontinued recently on a geographical scale. However, as rabies has not yet been eradicated globally, a serious risk of re-introduction remains. What is the best spatial design for an emergency vaccination program – particularly if resources are limited? Either, we treat a circular area around the detected case and run the risk of infected hosts leaving the limited control area, because a sufficient immunisation level has not yet been built up. Or, initially concentrate the SAME resources in order to establish a protective ring which is more distant from the infected local area, and which then holds out against the challenge of the approaching epidemic. METHODS: We developed a simulation model to contrast the two strategies for emergency vaccination. The spatial-explicit model is based on fox group home-ranges, which facilitates the simulation of rabies spread to larger areas relevant to management. We used individual-based fox groups to follow up the effects of vaccination in a detailed manner. Thus, regionally – bait distribution orientates itself to standard schemes of oral immunisation programs and locally – baits are assigned to individual foxes. RESULTS: Surprisingly, putting the controlled area ring-like around the outbreak does not outperform the circular area of the same size centred on the outbreak. Only during the very first baitings, does the ring area result in fewer breakouts. But then as rabies is eliminated within the circle area, the respective ring area fails, due to the non-controlled inner part. We attempt to take advantage of the initially fewer breakouts beyond the ring when applying a mixed strategy. Therefore, after a certain number of baitings, the area under control was increased for both strategies towards the same larger circular area. The circle-circle strategy still outperforms the ring-circle strategy and analysis of the spatial-temporal disease spread reveals why: improving control efficacy by means of a mixed strategy is impossible in the field, due to the build-up time of population immunity. CONCLUSION: For practical emergency management of a new outbreak of rabies, the ring-like application of oral vaccination is not a favourable strategy at all. Even if initial resources are substantially low and there is a serious risk of rabies cases outside the limited control area, our results suggest circular application instead of ring vaccination

A method of genetic identification of pine marten (Martes martes) and stone marten (Martes foina) and its application to faecal samples

Reliable identification of species occurring in a given area is a basis of effective wildlife management and conservation. However, discrimination of species is often difficult, especially if two morphologically similar, rare and elusive species occur sympatrically. This is the case with pine marten Martes martes and stone marten Martes foina, two closely related mustelids that have overlapping ranges throughout central Europe. Here we describe a genetic method that allows for distinguishing non-invasively collected samples (faeces or remotely plucked hair) derived from pine martens or stone martens. On the basis of the analysis of tissue samples of 31 pine martens and 26 stone martens, we found that the microsatellite locus Ma18 - developed in another study for American marten Martes americana - differs substantially in allele lengths between pine martens and stone martens, thereby allowing a genetic distinction of these species. We propose combining the use of the locus Ma18 with the second one described in the literature as having the same properties. The simultaneous application of these two markers allows for unequivocal species identification. To test the practical use of this method, we analysed 365 faecal samples collected in the vicinity of the town Rogów (51°48�N, 19°53�E) in central Poland, where pine martens and stone martens occur sympatrically. We successfully identified 78 scats of stone martens and 155 of pine martens. We found that the faeces of both martens occurred inside forest complexes of the study area. Thus, it is impossible to draw any inferences on the marten species solely from the type of habitat where the faeces were found. Genetic identification of faeces or hair provides a reliable and relatively cheap method of determining the presence of two species of European martens. Its application enables the monitoring of changes in their distribution, which is important because of their different demographic trends and conservation status. © 2007 The Zoological Society of London

Allele-specific expression analysis reveals conserved and unique features of preimplantation development in equine ICSI embryos

Embryonic genome activation and dosage compensation are major genetic events in early development. Combined analysis of single embryo RNA-seq data and parental genome sequencing was used to evaluate parental contributions to early development and investigate X-chromosome dynamics. In addition, we evaluated dimorphism in gene expression between male and female embryos. Evaluation of parent-specific gene expression revealed a minor increase in paternal expression at the 4-cell stage that increased at the 8-cell stage. We also detected eight genes with allelic expression bias that may have an important role in early development, notably NANOGNB. The main actor in X-chromosome inactivation, XIST, was significantly upregulated at the 8-cell, morula, and blastocyst stages in female embryos, with high expression at the latter. Sexual dimorphism in gene expression was identified at all stages, with strong representation of the X-chromosome in females from the 16-cell to the blastocyst stage. Female embryos showed biparental X-chromosome expression at all stages after the 4-cell stage, demonstrating the absence of imprinted X-inactivation at the embryo level. The analysis of gene dosage showed incomplete dosage compensation (0.5 < X:A < 1) in MII oocytes and embryos up to the 4-cell stage, an increase of the X:A ratio at the 16-cell and morula stages after genome activation, and a decrease of the X:A ratio at the blastocyst stage, which might be associated with the beginning of X-chromosome inactivation. This study represents the first critical analysis of parent- and sex-specific gene expression in early equine embryos produced in vitro.Fil: Goszczynski, Daniel Estanislao. University of California at Davis; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET- La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ing. Fernando Noel Dulout". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: Tinetti, P. S.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Choi, Y. H.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Ross, Pablo Juan. University of California at Davis; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Hinrichs, K.. Texas A&M University; Estados Unido