Brygida Ślaska

Analysis of genetic variability in farmed and wild populations of raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) using microsatellite sequences.

Abstract The aim of this study was to detect possible differences between farmed and wild-living raccoon dogs. Analysis of polymorphism in 15 microsatellite sequences led to the conclusion that raccoon dogs raised on Polish farms and wild raccoon dogs living in Poland are two genetically distinct groups of animals. Wild Polish raccoon dogs are genetically more similar to the population of wild animals from the Kaliningrad Region than to farmed animals. The analysis of microsatellite loci showed clear genetic differences between farmed and wild-living populations of raccoon dog, despite only 50 years of isolation of the two groups of animals. The farmed population was characterized by higher genetic variation than the wild-living population. On the basis of the analyses three microsatellite loci (INU014, Ren13J22 and Ren41D20) were proposed for determination of the origin of animals that have escaped from farms.

Current status of prevalence of yeast-like fungi in the environment of horses bred in Poland

Abstract This study presents an analysis of the yeast-like fungi population in the healthy horses’ living environment. The study material was sampled from various elements and equipment of a stable. We compared the yeast-like fungi population from the breeding environment of five groups of horses (English Thoroughbred horses, Arabian horses, Polish Half-Bred horses, cold-blooded horses, and Hucul horses and Highland ponies). The samples were collected in the summer and winter period. The laboratory examination involved 260 samples and resulted in identification of yeast-like fungi belonging to 13 species. Over 50% of the samples collected from the horse environment in wintertime and fewer than 18% of the summer samples displayed fungal growth. The largest amounts of yeast fungi were isolated from samples collected from water and feed troughs. The laboratory analysis demonstrated qualitative diversity of the yeast-like fungi population depending on the breeding environment of the individual horse groups. Quantitative differences of isolates were additionally related to the season of the year. Streszczenie Niniejsza praca przedstawia analizę występowania grzybów drożdżopodobnych w środowisku życia zdrowych koni. Materiał do badań pobrano z różnych elementów stajni i wyposażenia. W pracy porównano częstość izolacji grzybów z próbek pochodzących ze środowiska hodowlanego 5 grup koni (pełnej krwi angielskiej, czystej krwi arabskiej, małopolskich i zimnokrwistych oraz koni rasy huculskiej i Highland ponies). Próby pobierano w okresach letnim i zimowym. Łącznie przebadano laboratoryjnie 260 prób, z których wyhodowano i zidentyfikowano grzyby drożdżopodobne należące do 13 gatunków. Wykazano zróżnicowanie częstości izolacji różnych gatunków w zależności od środowiska hodowlanego poszczególnych grup koni. Różnice te związane były ponadto z porą roku. Z prób pobranych ze środowiska koni w okresie zimowym w ponad połowie przypadków wystąpił wzrost grzybów, natomiast w okresie letnim - w niespełna 18%. Najwięcej drożdżaków wyizolowano z prób pobranych z poideł i żłobów.

Genetic variability of farmed and free-living populations of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Abstract This study was designed to determine the degree of genetic distinctiveness between farmed and wild foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Analysis of polymorphism in 16 microsatellite sequences led to the conclusion that red foxes raised on Polish farms and wild foxes living in Poland are two groups of genetically distinct animals. Farmed Polish foxes are genetically more similar to the population of wild animals from North America than they are to the free-living population in Poland, as confirmed by the fact that the farmed animals are descended from animals raised in Canada. The small genetic distance between wild Canadian foxes (indicated as the progenitor of farmed Polish foxes) and farmed Polish foxes possibly suggests that the differences between the farmed and wild Polish populations may result from the fact that Canadian and Polish foxes took separate evolutionary paths. Sreszczenie Polimorfizm szesnastu sekwencji mikrosatelitarnych (Ren01E05, Ren02K21, Ren06C11, Ren13J22, Ren37H09, Ren39L15, Ren41D20, Ren44K10, Ren67C18, Ren02C20, Ren02P03, Ren04M22, INU013, INU014, INU019, INU020) badano w celu oceny zróżnicowania genetycznego polskiej populacji hodowlanej oraz dwóch populacji wolno żyjących (z Polski i Kanady) należących do gatunku Vulpesvulpes. Wyższymi wartościami indeksu stopnia polimorfizmu oraz heterozygotyczności obserwowanej i oczekiwanej charakteryzowały się obie grupy osobników dziko żyjących. Na podstawie frekwencji alleli ustalono dystans genetyczny dzielący badane populacje zwierząt. Stwierdzono, iż polskie lisy hodowlane wykazują większe podobieństwo genetyczne do populacji osobników dzikich z Ameryki Północnej niż do rodzimej populacji wolno żyjącej. Zatem lisy pospolite hodowane na polskich fermach i lisy dziko żyjące zamieszkujące tereny Polski stanowią dwie grupy zwierząt wysoce odrębne pod względem genetycznym.

General assessment of copy number variation in normal and tumor tissues of the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

In recent years, characterization of a copy number variation (CNV) of the genomic DNA has provided evidence for the relationship of this type of genetic variation with the occurrence of a broad spectrum of diseases, including cancer lesions. Copy number variants (CNVs) also occur in the genomes of healthy individuals as a result of abnormal recombination processes in germ cells and have a hereditary character contributing to the natural genetic diversity. Recent image analysis methods and advanced computational techniques allow for identification of CNVs using SNPs genotyping microarrays based on the analysis of signal intensity observed for markers located in the specific genomic regions. In this study we used CanineHD BeadChip assay (Illumina) to identify both natural and cancer-induced CNVs in the genomes of different dog breeds and in different cancer types occurring in this species. The obtained results showed that structural aberrations are a common phenomenon arising during a tumor progression and are more complex and widespread in tumors of mesenchymal tissue origin than in epithelial tissue originating tumors. The tumor derived CNVs, in comparison to healthy samples, were characterized by larger sizes of regions, higher number of amplifications, and in some cases encompassed genes with potential effect on tumor progression.

Mitochondrial D-loop mutations can be detected in sporadic malignant tumours in dogs

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify mutations in the D-loop region of mtDNA in head, neck, and limb tumours in dogs, and determination of their relationship with the process of neoplastic transformation. Blood and tumour tissue samples from 19 dogs with diagnosed sporadic malignant tumours were analysed. DNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing of the mtDNA D-loop, and bioinformatic analyses were performed. Five mutations and 19 polymorphisms were observed in 68.42% of all tumours. Polymorphic variants were noted in 42.86% of the head and neck tumours and in 58.33% of the limb tumours. Mutations were observed in 21.05% of dogs. The mutations were found in 28.57% of the head and neck tumours and in 16.66% of the limb tumours. The mutations were identified in 50% of the studied epithelial cancers. In the mesenchymal tumours, no mutations in the D-loop region were observed. Mitochondrial haplotype A17 was found in over 40% cases of limb tumours. No association between the age, breed, sex, type of tumour, and detected polymorphic variants were observed. Different mutational changes in the D-loop sequences of mtDNA identified in the blood and tumour tissues may indicate a relationship between the type of tumour and individual changes in the D-loop nucleotide sequences of mtDNA.

Effects of apomorphine, a dopamine agonist, on Daphnia magna: Imaging of swimming track density as a novel tool in the assessment of swimming activity

Apomorphine (APO) is a non-selective agonist of dopamine receptor activating D2-like receptors. Although Daphnia has been used in neurotoxicology in toxicity testing, little is known on its behavioural and physiological responses to dopamine receptors ligands. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine swimming behaviour (swimming track density, speed, turning activity) and physiological parameters such as heart rate, thoracic limb activity and post-abdominal claw movement frequency in daphnids exposed for 1, 2 and 4h to concentrations of 0.3, 3 and 30mg/L of APO. The results showed the most significant decrease of behavioural endpoints such as swimming track density, speed and degree of turning angles of daphnids exposed for 4h to the highest concentrations of APO. The study also showed that a decrease of thoracic limb activity was found after 2 and 4h but only at the highest concentration. Heart rate was not affected by APO which may be a result of a lack of signalling with dopamine receptors in the heart of Daphnia. Therefore, activity of this organ seems to be not a valuable physiological biomarker in the assessment of effects induced by dopamine receptor ligands. The study also showed that our new methodological approach, imaging of swimming track density may be a promising tool for studying the effects of neuroactive substances on locomotor system activity of Daphnia magna.

Value of Reproductive Traits of Chinchillas in Relation to Animal Conformation

Abstract Ślaska, B. and Rozempolska-Rucińska, I. 2010. Value of reproductive traits of Chinchillas in relation to animal conformation. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 38: 17–21. To determine the effect of the phenotypic upgrading of conformation traits on changes in the additive value of reproductive performance BLUP estimates were used for evaluating the mean breeding value of the number of born and weaned kits related to the body weight and the total evaluation of conformation. The mean breeding value of fecundity was significantly higher in the group of the heaviest females, compared to the group of the lightest dams. The biggest number of born and weaned kits was noted in the group of females with the lowest hair coat quality. Selection of animals based on body weight successfully predicts the breeding value of the reproductive traits. The total estimation of conformation—a phenotypic selection criterion—leads to a decline in the additive value of reproductive traits.