scholarly journals Rapid Multi-Hybridisation FISH Screening for Balanced Porcine Reciprocal Translocations Suggests a Much Higher Abnormality Rate Than Previously Appreciated

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 250
Author(s):  
Rebecca E O’Connor ◽  
Lucas G Kiazim ◽  
Claudia C Rathje ◽  
Rebecca L Jennings ◽  
Darren K Griffin

With demand rising, pigs are the world’s leading source of meat protein; however significant economic loss and environmental damage can be incurred if boars used for artificial insemination (AI) are hypoprolific (sub-fertile). Growing evidence suggests that semen analysis is an unreliable tool for diagnosing hypoprolificacy, with litter size and farrowing rate being more applicable. Once such data are available, however, any affected boar will have been in service for some time, with significant financial and environmental losses incurred. Reciprocal translocations (RTs) are the leading cause of porcine hypoprolificacy, reportedly present in 0.47% of AI boars. Traditional standard karyotyping, however, relies on animal specific expertise and does not detect more subtle (cryptic) translocations. Previously, we reported development of a multiple hybridisation fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) strategy; here, we report on its use in 1641 AI boars. A total of 15 different RTs were identified in 69 boars, with four further animals XX/XY chimeric. Therefore, 4.5% had a chromosome abnormality (4.2% with an RT), a 0.88% incidence. Revisiting cases with both karyotype and FISH information, we reanalysed captured images, asking whether the translocation was detectable by karyotyping alone. The results suggest that chromosome translocations in boars may be significantly under-reported, thereby highlighting the need for pre-emptive screening by this method before a boar enters a breeding programme.

DNA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-76
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Lewis ◽  
Claudia C. Rathje ◽  
Carla Canedo-Ribeiro ◽  
Lisa M. Bosman ◽  
Lucas G. Kiazim ◽  
...  

Pigs (Sus scrofa) have vast economic importance, with pork accounting for over 30% of the global meat consumption. Chromosomal abnormalities, and in particular reciprocal translocations (RTs), are an important cause of hypoprolificacy (litter size reduction) in pigs. However, these do not necessarily present with a recognizable phenotype and may cause significant economic losses for breeders when undetected. Here, we present a reappraisal of the incidence of RTs across several European pig herds, using contemporary methodology, as well as an analysis modelling the economic impact of these abnormalities. Molecular cytogenetic investigation was completed by karyotyping and/or multiprobe FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridisation) between 2016–2021, testing 2673 animals. We identified 19 types of chromosome abnormalities, the prevalence of these errors in the database was 9.1%, and the estimated incidence of de novo errors was 0.90%. Financial modelling across different scenarios revealed the potential economic impact of an undetected RT, ranging from £69,802 for an individual affected terminal boar in a commercial farm selling weaned pigs, to £51,215,378 for a genetics company with an undetected RT in a dam line boar used in a nucleus farm. Moreover, the added benefits of screening by FISH instead of karyotyping were estimated, providing a strong case for proactive screening by this approach.


The Lancet ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 353 (9148) ◽  
pp. 211-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce K Patterson ◽  
Mary Ann Czerniewski ◽  
John Pottage ◽  
Michelle Agnoli ◽  
Harold Kessler ◽  
...  

1993 ◽  
Vol 62 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 181-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.J. Eyre ◽  
P.A. Akkari ◽  
C. Meredith ◽  
S.D. Wilton ◽  
D.C. Callen ◽  
...  

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