Implication of complex vertebral malformation and deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase on molecular-based testing in the Iranian Holstein bulls population

The aim of this study was to identify the deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase (DUMPS) and the complex vertebral malformation (CVM) in Iranian Holstein bulls. A total of 144 blood samples were prepared of Holstein bulls in Abbas Abad Animal Breeding Center and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad's Dairy Farm in Khorasan state of Iran. Genomic PCR-RFLP protocol was performed to amplify the polymorphic region of the bovine uridine monophosphate synthase UMPS gene. Also, genomic PCR-SSCP method was performed for CVM to amplify the polymorphic region of the bovine solutecarrier family 35 member 3 (SLC35A3) genes. The results of this study demonstrated that there was no carrier of DUMPS and CVM in Iranian bulls in these centers

Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Milk Yield Using Random Regression Test Day Model in Iranian Holstein

In this study a total of 171,360 monthly test day milk records obtained from first lactation of Iranian Holstein cattle (three times a day milking) distributed in 96 herds and calved from 1999 to 2008 were used to estimate genetic parameters and to predict breeding values of the animals. The data was analyzed using Random Regression Test Day Model. The results showed that average of heritability for the second half of lactation period was higher than that of the first half. The heritability value for the first month was lowest and for the eighth and ninth months of the lactation was highest compared to the other months of lactation. The genetic correlations between monthly test day records decreased by increasing the distances between months of lactation

Evaluation of IFN-γ and TGFβ1 Genes Expression in Guinea Pigs Vaccinated with Foot-and-Mouth Disease Type O Inactivated Vaccine

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severely contagious viral disease in cloven-hooved animals that it causes considerable economic losses in livestock productivity. Vaccination is one of the most effective procedures for control of FMD. One of vaccines performances is stimulating expression of some immune system genes, which called cytokines. In this study, expression changes of IFN-γ and TGFβ1 genes were evaluated in vaccinated guinea pigs with FMD type O inactivated vaccine. Blood samples were collected from vaccinated and control (no vaccinated) guinea pigs in three distinct times. After blood sampling, RNA was extracted and converted to cDNA. For measuring IFN-γ and TGFβ1 genes expression, relative Real-time PCR procedure was used. The results showed that expression of IFN-γ and TGFβ1 genes in the second and third blood sampling were significantly increased in comparison to the first blood sampling. Because increasing of cytokines expression is an indicative of the immune system response, these genes can be used as indicators for testing effects of the recombinant vaccines

Study of Genetic Diversity in Iranian Turkmen Horse by Four Microsatellite Markers

The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity of Iranian Turkmen Horse using microsatellite markers (HMS02, HMS03, HMS07 and AHT04). Blood samples were collected from 51 Turkmen horses in Khorasan Shomali province, Iran. Genomic DNA was extracted and then standard Polymerase Chain Reaction performed to amplify the microsatellite markers using specific primers. The PCR products were electrophoresed on 8% polyacrylamide gel. The results have demonstrated that the number of alleles in these loci varied from 9 to 12 with mean value of 10.5. HMS02 and HMS07 had the highest (12) and the lowest (9) number of alleles, respectively. HMS02 had the highest (0.8847) and HMS03 had the lowest (0.8039) heterozygosity rates. Also, polymorphic information content (PIC) was the highest (0.86) in HMS07and the lowest (0.77) in HMS03. Finally, the highest and the lowest value of Shannon index were estimated in HMS07 and AHT04, respectively. Results have shown that these four microsatellite loci have high polymorphism and can be used as suitable molecular markers in genetic studies