Utility and Applicability of a Universal Set of Primers in Identifying the Sex of South and Southeast Asian Mammals

Unusual sex chromosomal DSD in a domestic Shorthair cat with a 37,X/38,XY mosaic karyotype

BACKGROUND

Sex chromosome abnormalities associated with disorders of sexual development (DSD) are rarely described in cats, mainly due to the lack of chromossome studies that precisely reveal the condition. Genetic approaches are therefore required in order to detect sex chromossomes abnormalities as variations in the number and structure of chromosomes, or the presence of a second cell line as mosaicim or chimerism.

CASE PRESENTATION

A male Shorthair cryptorchid cat was presented with clinical signs of anorexia, tenesmus and hyperthermia. Ultrasonography revealed a fluid-filled structure, with approximately 1 cm in diameter, adjacent to the descending colon. Computed tomography evidenced a tubular structure, ventral to the descending colon and caudal to the bladder, which extended cranially, through two branches. Histopathological evaluation confirmed the presence of two atrophic uterine horns and one hypoplastic testicle with epididymis at the end of one of the uterine horns. The end of the other uterine horn was attached to a structure composed by a mass of adipocytes. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a mosaic 37,X/38,XY karyotype. The two cell lines were found in 15% and 85% of the lymphocytes, respectively. Genetic analysis confirmed the presence of SRY and ZFY genes in blood and hair bulbs, and revealed a marked reduction in SRY expression in the testicle. Additionally, this case presented exceptionally rare features, such as a Leydig' cell tumour and a chronic endometritis in both uterine horns.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete imaging workup, cytogenetic analysis and SRY gene expression should be systematically realized, in order to properly classify disorders of sexual development (DSD) in cats.

Understanding genetic diversity and population genetic structure of three Cyprinidae fishes occupying the same habitat from Uttarakhand, India

Different pattern of genetic diversity and population genetic structure among the species are reported due to their different ecological requirements, adaptability and the evolutionary histories. Understanding such patterns in a species and between the populations is important to develop the effective conservation plans. Very limited studies are available, how different factors influencing the gene flow of a species especially in fish communities. Therefore, the present study is aimed to document the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the three species of Cyprinidae fishes (Puntius sophore, Pethia ticto, and Pethia conchonius) sharing the same kind of habitat using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1). We used 80 samples of the three species from different river/streams. In which we observed total 4–9 haplotypes in all three species with the intra-species sequenced divergence ranges between 0.002 and 0.019. The nucleotide and haplotype diversity was ranged from 0.002040 to 0.01007 and from 0.251 to 0.822, respectively. Neutrality test values were found to be positive only in the P. ticto but statistically non-significant. The AMOVA variation among the populations was 8.89–84.30% whereas, within the populations, it was ranged from 15.70 to 91.11%. The median-joining haplotype network suggests the stable population size over the time and haplotypes were clustered with respect to their geographic locations except the P. conchonius. Similar pattern observed in the phylogenetic tree.