Yash Pal

Phenotypic characterization of Indian equine breeds: a comparative study

Las poblaciones de las seis razas equinas registradas por laOficina Nacional India deRecursos Zoogeneticos han disminuido drasticamente a causa de la cria sin criterio y de su menor utilizacion. En este trabajo, se estudiaron 15 indices biometricos, junto con caracteristicas raciales tipicas, en 50 animales de cada raza, excepto en la raza Bhutia (35) para su caracterizacion fenotipica. En base a sus alzadas a la cruz, las razas Kathiawari y Marwari se clasificaron como �caballos�, mientras que las razas Zanskari, Manipuri, Bhutia y Spiti se clasificaron como �ponis�. La raza Marwari fue la de mayor alzada y la que era significativamente diferente a otras razas en la mayoria de los indices biometricos. La raza Spiti fue la que presento una menor alzada entre las seis poblaciones de caballos y ponis estudiadas. Se observo un moderado dimorfismo sexual en algunos de los indices biometricos en las diferentes razas. En las razas Marwari y Kathiawari, tanto los sementales como las yeguas, pueden girar las orejas en un angulo de 180°, quedando las puntas de las orejas en el centro, siendo una caracteristica tipica de estas dos razas. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo proporcionar informacion de referencia para la identificacion y comparacion de las distintas razas de equidos de la India, con el proposito de sensibilizar a genetistas y criadores acerca de la importancia de producir ejemplares tipicos, de su conservacion y para la mejora de la gestion de estos valiosos recursos geneticos.

Mitochondrial DNA- a Tool for Phylogenetic and Biodiversity Search in Equines

It is imperative to assess the maternal lineage in order to achieve a broad picture of evolution, phylogenetic and genetic biodiversity within and among different breeds of livestock. In recent past, there has been a considerable advancement in sequencing of complete mammalian mtDNA molecules and their analysis. Most of the studies have focused on the mitochondrial D-loop region, the most variable part of mtDNA due to increased substitution rate than in the rest of the mtDNA genome which serves as a better genetic marker to assess the diversity. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) possesses several favorable characteristics, including large quantity in the cell, small genome size, haploid, maternal inheritance with extremely low probability of paternal leakage, higher mutation rate than nuclear DNA, and amenable to change mainly through mutation rather than recombination. All these features make mtDNA a useful and one of the most frequently used markers in molecular systematic and has been widely employed to address questions of genetic diversity, population structure and population evolution of animals including equines. Many native breeds of horses as well as ponies were assessed for their genetic diversity and ancestry on the basis of studies on mitochondrial DNA to address the questions of evolution along with breed development and conservation.

Genetic Diversity and Structure Analysis of Donkey Population Clusters in Different Indian Agro-climatic Regions

This study conducted with a panel of 24 polymorphic microsatellites revealed high number of alleles and heterozygosity in all the Indian donkey clusters available in different agro-climatic regions. All the markers are highly polymorphic as reflected from high allele number and heterozygosity, thus suitable for genotyping studies. Genetic diversity within each donkey population as well as between populations of different regions was also quite high indicating no extinction threat to population. The genetic differentiation suggested that 89.59% genetic variation corresponds to difference among individuals and 10.41% is attributed to differences among population clusters. However conservation and preservations of donkeys is important as their overall population is decreasing rapidly in country. Even the 24 microsatellites utilized for individual assignment did not reveal 100% assignment of donkeys to their clustered population. Breed relationship analysis revealed closeness among Leh and Bihar donkeys which seems to be unique as geographically these populations are at distant places and mixing of these donkeys cluster is not feasible. Closeness of donkey population from Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Baramati regions may be due to sharing of common breeding tract and movement of donkeys in these agro-climatic regions with their owners during harsh and odd environmental conditions for their survival. Population structure analysis revealed that donkey population from seven regions can be divided in two main clusters: first cluster having donkey population from Bihar and leh while second cluster included donkeys from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Spiti. Population from Baramati and Haryana had more than 50% individual population as admixed while Spiti donkeys had no admixed individuals. The current study aimed to provide insight into the genetic relationships and diversity between various indigenous donkey populations will offer a valuable reference for rational strategies in breed assignment to local non-descript donkeys, donkey conservation and breeding programs.

Phenotypic Clustering of Indian Donkey Population Belonging to Six Agro-Climatic Regions

Donkeys support rural livelihoods and low-income farmer’s family by providing economy at minimal maintenance cost. In India, donkeys constitute about 28% of total equine population but these are non-descript local donkeys without any breed characterization. This study describes phenotypic diversity among different donkey populations available in various agro-climatic regions in India including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, J&K, Haryana, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh for their phenotypic clustering as a distinct breed(s) by considering each population as a separate cluster. Biometric indices of seven local donkey populations were recorded and compared to French Poitou donkey breed which revealed that average body length of donkeys from Spiti, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Baramati, Bihar, Haryana and Leh areas was 97.09, 101.18, 97.60, 103.68, 96.31, 109 & 95.76 cm, respectively, while Poitou donkeys had significantly higher length (138.79 cm) than indigenous donkey populations. Further height at wither revealed that except leh donkey population, the rest of the donkeys prevalent throughout different agro-climatic regions met a “small standard’ pattern. Donkey populations from Leh were fitted in ‘Miniature’ donkey pattern. All local donkeys were well adapted to their agroclimatic environment and ecology as they were totally dependent upon the grass cover and roughages available within their reach for meeting their nutritional requirement. Coat colour varied across different regions. Black and brown colours were prevalent in donkeys from cold desert regions including Leh and Spiti region. Face length of donkeys from Spiti, Gujarat and Baramati were at par with each other while donkeys from Leh had smallest face length. Cluster analysis based on biometric indices revealed that exotic Poitou donkeys is an out-group as it formed a distinct cluster while Indigenous donkeys belonging to various agro-climatic zones were grouped in three clusters namely, C1-miniature or near miniature donkeys (Leh, Spiti and Bihar regions), C2- small standard ones including donkeys from Rajasthan and Gujarat while cluster C3 having donkeys from Baramati and Haryana region. Poitou cluster was phenotypically different from Cluster 1 as Eucledean cluster distance was maximum with donkeys of this cluster, followed by cluster 2 and cluster 3. This information will be useful for breed classification of these local non-descript donkeys.

Molecular characterization, modeling, in silico analysis of equine pituitary gonadotropin alpha subunit and docking interaction studies with ganirelix

Equine pituitary gonadotropins (eLH, eFSH, eCG) are heterodimeric glycoprotein hormones with alpha (α) and beta (β) subunits. It is responsible for maintenance of pregnancy in mares during early gestation and fairly valuable for inducing superovulation in animals other than equines. The alpha subunit is common, while beta subunit is species-specific in all glycoprotein hormones. In the present investigation, molecular cloning and in silico characterization including homology modeling and molecular docking analysis of the equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) alpha subunit was carried out for gaining structural and functional insights into the eCG alpha subunit and its possible interaction with ganirelix, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist. The equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) alpha subunit expressed in pituitary gland was selected, amplified from total RNA, cloned and sequenced. The in silico analyses were made for homology modelling, structural details, epitope identification and chromosomal localization. Molecular docking studies of eCG alpha were undertaken with a drug ganirelix which is used to control ovulation and has antagonistic activity against GnRH. The protein sequence corresponding to selected open reading frame (ORF) was 99–100% similar with domesticated horse, Przewalski’s horse, and 92–93% with Burchell’s zebra and donkey. Molecular docking studies revealed the possible interaction of eCG alpha with ganirelix. The possible drug-macromolecule interactions were visualized between eCG alpha and ganirelix. The study will provide structural insight into unique sites and an alternate route of gonadotropin suppression applicable to assisted reproductive technologies.

Biochemical profiles of Indian donkey population located in six different agro-climatic zones

To establish normal values of blood biochemical indices for different indigenous local donkey population available in various agro-climatic zones, blood samples were collected from 233 adult and apparently healthy donkeys. The samples were analysed for metabolites (albumin, total serum protein, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, urea, uric acid, triglyceride, creatinine) and minerals (calcium, phosphorus) to evaluate significant difference within and between populations. Confidence limit of each biochemical indices showed a close range as compared to their actual range observed under varied geographic areas. All the metabolites and minerals showed significant variations in their levels within and between donkey populations which could possibly be due to the differences in the nutritional status of donkeys, their managemental aspects and biochemical metabolism. In agro-climatic zone 1 (Spiti and Leh areas), having low vegetation cover with poor nutritious grasses for a limited period, levels of most of the biochemical profiles in donkey populations belonging to these areas were significantly lower than those in other zones (VI, IX, XII, XIV). This study indicated that normal biochemical values of different indices for a particular population should not be used as such for disease prognosis, diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of other donkey population belonging to other agro-climatic zone having different nutritional and managemental practices.