Preliminary results in a case of sterility associated with chromosomal abnormalities in a jenny

GABRIEL ANAYA; MONIKA BUGNO PONIEWIERZKA; MIGUEL MORENO MILLÁN; SEBASTIÁN DEMYDA PEYRÁS

Toulouse

Conferencia; 22th International Colloquium on animal cytogenetic and gene mapping; 2016

International Colloquium on animal cytogenetic and gene mapping,

Equines are characterized by an increased rate of chromosomal abnormalities compared with other domestic species. Most of them are linked to the sex chromosome pair and determine failures in the correct development of internal and external reproductive organs. Despite the genetic similarity, this kind of sex developmental linked abnormalities was not reported previously in donkeys (Equus asinus). We determined for the first time the presence of an abnormal chromosomal complement in the sex pair in a donkey. A two-and-a-half-year-old jenny characterized by morphological abnormalities of the reproductive tract was cytogenetically analyzed using conventional and fluorescent techniques. ZOO-FISH hybridizations were performed using horse ECAX and ECAY probes with optimal results. Ultrasonography examination revealed the presence of abnormal structures in the vagina and hypoplastic ovaries. Furthermore, cervix os was absent, producing sterility. Individual was slaughtered by the decision of the owner. Further post-mortem morphological examinations showed that the animal had a blind vagina and the cervix OS was present but not connected with the vaginal vestibule. Chromosome analysis showed the presence of a 62,XX/61,X karyotype with a cellular prevalence of 95% / 5% of each cell line respectively. It is noteworthy that the methodology employed do not allow us to differentiate between mosaicism and chimerism since we cannot establish the genetic origin of the cell lines detected. To our knowledge, this is the first case of chromosomal abnormalities in the sex pair reported in donkeys. However, further studies, including a molecular characterization of the cell lines and the identification of their origin should be performed to establish a more refined diagnose in this case.