title: Characterization of a very rare case of living ewe-buck hybrid using classical and molecular cytogenetics.
abstract: The natural occurrence of live hybrid offsprings between sheep and goats has been documented in literature, however all the studies have reported the mating of goats with rams, whereas the reciprocal cross was never documented. This study reports on a very rare case of interspecies hybridization occurred between a ewe (2n = 54, XX) and a buck (2n = 60, XY). The hybrid, born in a German flock under natural conditions, is characterised by an intermediate karyotype (2n = 57, XX). The CBA-banding has shown 3 metacentric and 54 acrocentric chromosomes, whereas the GTG- and RBA-banding have revealed that the autosomes involved in the hybrid combination were CHI1, 3; CHI2, 8 and CHI5, 11 corresponding to the metacentric chromosomes OAR1, OAR2 and OAR3. A tri-colour FISH using chromosome paintings and BAC probes has validated this arrangement. A further FISH analysis has been carried out to analyse the telomeres, which showed a normal structure. Nucleolus organiser-bearing chromosomes were identified as pairs OAR1p(CHI3), OAR2q(CHI2), OAR3q(CHI5), OAR4(CHI4) and OAR25(CHI28), and nuclear associations were found. Sex chromosomes were correctly arranged. The odd number of the karyotype might be responsible for a reduced fertility as consequence of the incorrect chromosomal pairing and/or segregation during the meiosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.|Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Ludwigstraβe 21b, D-35390 Giessen, Germany.|National Research Council (CNR), ISPAAM, Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Gene Mapping, via Argine 1085, 80147 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pauciullo
authors.affiliation: Department for Animal Science, Biotechnology and Reproduction of Livestock, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg 2, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Knorr
authors.affiliation: National Research Council (CNR), ISPAAM, Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Gene Mapping, via Argine 1085, 80147 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perucatti
authors.affiliation: National Research Council (CNR), ISPAAM, Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Gene Mapping, via Argine 1085, 80147 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iannuzzi
authors.affiliation: National Research Council (CNR), ISPAAM, Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Gene Mapping, via Argine 1085, 80147 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iannuzzi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Ludwigstraβe 21b, D-35390 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erhardt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D020223:Chromosome Painting / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000235:genetics*; D059785:Karyotype; D007621:Karyotyping / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012730:Sex Chromosomes; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012756:Sheep / Q000235:genetics*