The water buffalo: evolutionary, clinical and molecular cytogenetics

Although buffalo population is about 1/10 of that of cattle, buffaloes interest a larger human population, especially in the east countries. For this reason, this species is of great economic importance. Two main species of buffalo are found in the world: the Asiatic (water) buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). These two different species have both two different sub-species differing in diploid number but interbreeding within the same genus. The water buffalo, especially the river type (2n=50), is the most important one and a summary of the most important cytogenetic findings obtained until now in this species is reported in this paper

Frequency and Distribution of Rob (1;29) in Three Portuguese Cattle Breeds

Representative samples of Portuguese cattle from Barrosg, Maronesa, and Mirandesa breeds underwent cytogenetic investigation. Banding showed that 134 (65.0 %) Barrosas, 74 (40.2 %) Maronesas and 4 (1.6 %) Mirandesas carried rob (1;29). "be frequency of this translocation in the three breeds (39 % in Barrosas, 23 % in Maronesas, and I % in Mirandesas) was in a genetic Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the three karyological forms (2n = 60, 2n = 59 and 2n = 58), strongly supporting the hypothesis for an ancient origin of this translocation and the hypothesis of the origin of Maronesas from BarrosP and Mirandesa cross-breeding. L. Iannuzzi, National Research Council (CNR), I.A.B.B.A.M., Via Argine, 1085, 80147-Naples-PonticeNi, Ital

Bioelectrical impedance analysis for the prediction of hot carcass weight in buffalo calf

Twenty young buffalo male calves were fed ad libitum with a total mix ration and with vitamin-mineral integration for 14 months. Seven days before slaughter, the animals were weighed and bioelectrical impedance measurements were collected in live animals. Physical and chemical characteristics were assessed on the Longissimus dorsi muscle after slaughter. Correlations and regression equations were calculated to determine the possible use of bioelectrical impedance for evaluating hot carcass weight. Bioelectrical impedance analysis at different frequencies, simple correlation and analysis of regression were examined for all the data collected, supporting the possibility of hot carcass weight prediction with equation at multifrequency. The results show that, probably due to the variability in animal live weight, the distribution of the colour parameters was not normally distributed. Moreover, using different frequencies of resistance and reactance, hot carcass weight in buffalo may be predicted with the following equation: Y=98.47–8.84(Rs100KHz)+4.41(Rs1000 KHz)-116.27(Xc5 KHz)+51.04(Xc50 KHz)+20.30(Xc100 KHz)-33.92(Xc500 KHz)+9.01(Xc1000 KHz)±ε (Adjusted R Square value of .907 and SE of 5.728) However, further studies are required to improve the technique also in buffalo, after standardization of the method

The high resolution GBA + CBA-banded karyotype in cattle (Bos taurus L.)

SUMMARYPeripheral blood cultures were set up to obtain high resolution GBA + CBA banding in cattle prometaphase chromosomes of normal karyotypes and rob (1; 29) carrying karyotypes by using early BrdU incorporation simultaneous to MTX-block, Fifty-nine karyotypes were strictly arranged according to the Reading Conference standard. Chromosome pairs from 24 to 29 were also shown in their RBA- banding paterns to further support the GBA + CBA banding in the same chromosomes, including the most disputed ones (chromosomes 25, 27, 28 and 29), and the inconsistencies in the two international cattle chromosome nomenclatures. Comparisons with cattle and river buffalo standard nomenclatures are reported. This study is our contribution to the construction of a GBA + CBA standard karyotype in cattle

An improved characterization of goat chromosomes by means of G- and R-band comparison.

An improved characterization of goat (Capra hircus, 2n = 60) chromosomes was obtained after a G- and R-banding comparison of the prometaphase chromosomes arranged according to the standard karyotype. GTG-, GBG-, RBG, and RBA-banding made possible construction of G- and R-banded idiograms with a common banding nomenclature. A brief G- and R-banding description of chromosomes 4, 6, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28 and 29 is also given

The high resolution G- and R-banding pattern in chromosomes of river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis L.).

High resolution G- and R-banding patterns in chromosomes of river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis L.) were obtained by using early (G-bands) and late (R-bands) BrdU-incorporation in synchronized cell cultures. To better characterize the river buffalo chromosomes, GTG-, GBG-, and RBG-techniques were used. The total number of bands achieved were 490 (207 G-positive, 207 R-positive, 45 variable, and 31 centromeric regions). Only one common G- and R-banding nomenclature was reported. The number, position and intensity of G bands were highly similar by the structural GTC and the replicating GBG-techniques. However, the replicating G- and R-bands appeared to be more distinct and reproducible than the structural G-bands. Some changes in chromosome nomenclature (chromosomes lp, 2p, 5p, and 21) were made when referred to the cattle homologues

Comparative fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping of twenty-three endogenous Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (enJSRVs) in sheep (Ovis aries) and river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) chromosomes

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are the remnants of ancient infections of host germline cells, thus representing key tools to study host and viral evolution. Homologous ERV sequences often map at the same genomic locus of different species, indicating that retroviral integration occurred in the genomes of the common ancestors of those species. The genome of domestic sheep (Ovis aries) harbors at least twenty-seven copies of ERVs related to the exogenous and pathogenic Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRVs), thus referred to as enJSRVs. Some of these loci are unequally distributed between breeds and individuals of the host species due to polymorphic insertions, thereby representing invaluable tools to trace the evolutionary dynamics of virus populations within their hosts. In this study, we extend the cytogenetic physical maps of sheep and river buffalo by performing fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping of twenty-three genetically characterized enJSRVs. Additionally, we report the first comparative FISH mapping of enJSRVs in domestic sheep (2n = 54) and river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis, 2n = 50). Finally, we demonstrate that enJSRV loci are conserved in the homologous chromosomes and chromosome bands of both species. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that enJSRVs were present in the genomes of both species before they differentiated within the Bovidae family