Dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy in a Toy Poodle with a single base pair insertion in exon 45 of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene

A 10-month-old, intact male Toy Poodle was referred for a postural abnormality. Blood biochemical tests revealed a marked increase in plasma creatine phosphokinase (CPK) concentration. The isoenzyme test showed that 99% of serum CPK consisted of CPK-MM. Histopathological evaluation of muscle biopsy samples confirmed scattered degeneration and necrosis of myofibers. Immunohistochemistry for dystrophin showed an absence of staining in muscle cells. Based on these findings, the dog was diagnosed with dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy. Whole genome sequencing using genomic DNA extracted from blood revealed a single base pair insertion in exon 45 of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene. This is the first report on muscular dystrophy in Toy Poodles and identified a novel mutation in the DMD gene.     

The electroretinographic phenotype of dogs with Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy

Objective To characterize the flash electroretinogram (ERG) in the Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) dog and to compare the results with those from a control group of Golden Retrievers. To investigate whether similar abnormalities of the ERG as those found in a majority of human patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are also observed in the GRMD dog, the canine model for DMD. Animals Five GRMD dogs and five age‐matched clinically normal Golden Retrievers. Procedure An ophthalmic examination was carried out prior to performing electroretinography under general anesthesia. Rod, combined rod–cone and oscillatory potentials responses were recorded after dark adaptation. Responses to 30‐Hz‐flicker were recorded after light adaptation. The ERG responses of the GRMD dogs were compared with those of the control dogs by use of a Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results GRMD dogs had significantly reduced a and b‐wave amplitudes after dim white flash stimuli (rod response) and reduced a‐wave amplitude after bright white flash stimuli (rod–cone response). Conclusion and clinical relevance The ERG abnormalities observed in the GRMD dog suggest a dysfunction in the rod signaling pathway. These ERG alterations are different from those observed in human patients with DMD.     

Age-related thoracic radiographic changes in golden and labrador retriever muscular dystrophy

Golden retriever and Labrador retriever muscular dystrophy are inherited progressive degenerative myopathies that are used as models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in man. Thoracic lesions were reported to be the most consistent radiographic finding in golden retriever dogs in a study where radiographs were performed at a single-time point. Muscular dystrophy worsens clinically over time and longitudinal studies in dogs are lacking. Thus our goal was to describe the thoracic abnormalities of golden retriever and Labrador retriever dogs, to determine the timing of first expression and their evolution with time. To this purpose, we retrospectively reviewed 390 monthly radiographic studies of 38 golden retrievers and six Labrador retrievers with muscular dystrophy. The same thoracic lesions were found in both golden and Labrador retrievers. They included, in decreasing frequency, flattened and/or scalloped diaphragmatic shape (43/44), pulmonary hyperinflation (34/44), hiatal hernia (34/44), cranial pectus excavatum (23/44), bronchopneumonia (22/44), and megaesophagus (14/44). The last three lesions were not reported in a previous radiographic study in golden retriever dogs. In all but two dogs the thoracic changes were detected between 4 and 10 months and were persistent or worsened over time. Clinically, muscular dystrophy should be included in the differential diagnosis of dogs with a combination of these thoracic radiographic findings.     

Nutritional muscular dystrophy in a four-day-old Connemara foal

This report describes a four-day-old, full-term Connemara colt, presented for the evaluation of a progressive inability to rise unassisted. A diagnosis of nutritional muscular dystrophy was made based on muscular weakness, elevated muscle enzymes and low vitamin E, selenium and glutathione peroxidase activity. The foal was treated with intramuscular vitamin E-selenium and made a full recovery.     

Loss of p16/Ink4a drives high frequency of rhabdomyosarcoma in a rat model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive type of soft tissue sarcoma, and pleomorphic RMS is a rare subtype of RMS found in adult. p16 is a tumor suppressor which inhibits cell cycle. In human RMS, p16 gene is frequently deleted, but p16-null mice do not develop RMS. We reported that genetic ablation of p16 by the crossbreeding of p16 knock-out rats (p16-KO rats) improved the dystrophic phenotype of a rat model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Dmd-KO rats). However, p16/Dmd double knock-out rats (dKO rats) unexpectedly developed sarcoma. In the present study, we raised p16-KO, Dmd-KO, and dKO rats until 11 months of age. Twelve out of 22 dKO rats developed pleomorphic RMS after 9 months of age, while none of p16-KO rats and Dmd-KO rats developed tumor. The neoplasms were connected to skeletal muscle tissue with indistinct borders and characterized by diffuse proliferation of pleomorphic cells which had eosinophilic cytoplasm and atypical nuclei with anisokaryosis. For almost all cases, the tumor cells immunohistochemically expressed myogenic markers including desmin, MyoD, and myogenin. The single cell cloning from tumor primary cells gained 20 individual Pax7-negative MyoD-positive RMS cell clones. Our results demonstrated that double knock-out of p16 and dystrophin in rats leads to the development of pleomorphic RMS, providing an animal model that may be useful to study the developmental mechanism of pleomorphic RMS.     

Physical therapy assessment tools to evaluate disease progression and phenotype variability in Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy

Dogs suffering from Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) present symptoms that are similar to human patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Phenotypic variability is common in both cases and correlates with disease progression and response to therapy. Physical therapy assessment tools were used to study disease progression and assess phenotypic variability in dogs with GRMD. At 5 (T0), 9 (T1), 13 (T2) and 17 (T3) months of age, the physical features, joint ranges of motion (ROM), limb and thorax circumferences, weight and creatine kinase (CK) levels were assessed in 11 dogs with GRMD. Alterations of physical features were higher at 13 months, and different disease progression rates were observed. Passive ROM decreased until 1 year old, which was followed by a decline of elbow and tarsal ROM. Limb and thorax circumferences, which were corrected for body weight, decreased significantly between T0 and T3. These measurements can be used to evaluate disease progression in dogs with GRMD and to help discover new therapies for DMD patients.     

Radiographic,MRI, and CT findings in a young dog with Becker-like muscular dystrophy

An 8-month-old, male, crossbreed dog was presented for macroglossia, reduced mandibular extension, ptyalism, dysphagia, and regurgitation. Serum creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase activity were markedly increased. Thoracic radiographs showed an axial gastro-esophageal hiatal hernia, diaphragmatic thickening, and asymmetry. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed a severely enlarged tongue, symmetric increase in size of the geniohyoid and mylohyoid muscles, and diffuse masticatory hypomyotrophy. Whole-body CT ruled out other musculoskeletal abnormalities and further characterized the radiographic and MRI findings. Muscular histopathology was consistent with Becker muscular dystrophy.     

褪黑激素受体MTNR1B5′调控区多态及其与鸡产蛋性状的关联分析

为研究褪黑激素受体基因MTNR1B对鸡产蛋性状的影响,本试验用直接测序法检测了434只寿光鸡MTNR1B5′调控区的SNPs,并与寿光鸡的产蛋性状进行关联分析。结果发现,在5′调控区有13个SNPs位点,9个位点中度多态,4个位点低度多态,所有位点处于哈代温伯格平衡状态。-836位点（C→T）,-778位点（G→A）和-629位点（G→A）完全连锁,群体中有CGA和TAG 2种单倍型。CGA使产蛋数增加,在前、中、后期和总产蛋数上,加性效应值分别为1.0、2.5、1.4和4.9枚。在中期、后期和总产蛋数上2种单倍型存在正向互作效应,显性效应分别达到了2.7、2.3和5.6枚。构建的包含TAG、CGA和TGG 3种单倍型启动活性试验表明,-778位点突变是单倍型效应差异的关键。综上所述,MTNR1B的5′调控区有丰富的SNPs位点,-836、-778和-629位点SNPs及单倍型对寿光鸡的产蛋量有显著影响,可作为寿光鸡产蛋量辅助选择的具有潜在应用价值的分子遗传标记。     

Identification of candidate genes for blood metabolites in Iranian chickens using a genome-wide association study

1. In order to identify loci associated with metabolic traits, a genome-wide association study was carried out in a chicken F2 population derived from a reciprocal cross between Iranian Urmia indigenous chickens and Arian broiler line using Illumina 60K Chicken single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) BeadChip.

2. Six traits including plasma level of triglycerides (TGs), cholesterol (Chol), glucose (Glu), total protein, albumin (Alb) and globulin (Glo) were recorded. The association between the identified SNPs and metabolic traits was estimated by general linear model (GLM) and compressed mixed linear model (CMLM).

3. A total of 38 SNPs were identified at the genome-wide significant and suggestive levels, of which 5 SNPs reached a 5% Bonferroni genome-wide significance (P < 2.58E-6) for TG, Alb and Glo through CMLM, and 21 SNPs were significantly associated with TG, Chol, Glu, Alb and Glo through GLM.

4. Gene ontology showed that these SNPs were located within or near the candidate genes responsible for metabolic traits.

5. In conclusion, the identified candidate genes provided novel information for molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic traits. These findings are important in marker-assisted selection in the chicken breeding scheme.     

茶多酚对固始鸡心脏、肝脏、肌胃中胆固醇和甘油三脂含量的影响

选择1日龄健康固始鸡90只,随机分为3组,即对照组,试验Ⅰ组,试验Ⅱ组(n=30),对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中分别添加0.25%、0.50%的茶多酚,试验期为42d。分别于2、4、6周称重,每组屠宰10只,取其内脏并测定鸡心脏、肝脏、肌胃中胆固醇和甘油三脂的含量,以研究茶多酚对固始鸡心脏、肝脏、肌胃中胆固醇和甘油三脂含量的影响。结果表明,与对照组相比较,茶多酚能显著降低肝脏中胆固醇含量(P0.05);添加0.5%茶多酚4、6周龄可显著降低肌胃中胆固醇含量;基础日粮中添加0.5%的茶多酚在4周龄时可显著降低肝脏中甘油三酯水平(P0.05),6周龄可极显著降低肝脏中甘油三酯水平(P0.01)。     

Variation at the insulin-like growth factor 1 gene and its association with body weight traits in the chicken

The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is essential for normal embryonic and postnatal growth in mammals. In this study, a total of 342 F(2) individuals, derived from Broiler crossing to Baier layer (Northeast Agricultural University Resource Population, NEAURP), were used to investigate the associations of haplotypes in the chicken IGF1 (cIGF1) gene with body weight traits. Primers for the 5'-flanking, exon 3 and 3'-flanking regions of cIGF1 were designed according to chicken genome database. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between parental lines were detected by sequencing, and PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and PCR single-stranded-conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) methods were used to genotype the SNPs in the population. Haplotypes were constructed with the three SNPs detected. The association analysis showed that haplotypes based on three cIGF1 polymorphisms (c.-366A>C, c.528G>A and c.*1024C>T) were associated with body weight traits, suggesting that cIGF1 or a tightly linked gene had effects on body weight in the chicken.     

Polymorphism of insulin‐like growth factor 1 gene is associated with breast muscle yields in chickens

Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF1) plays an important role in muscle development in chickens. In this study, an F2 chicken population of 362 individuals, obtained from an intercross between high breast muscle yield line males and low breast muscle yield (LB) line females, was constructed for investigating the associations between IGF1 gene and breast muscle yields. The IGF1 sequence was investigated in the grandparents. There were no differences in the exon sequences. However, sequence analysis of the IGF1 promoter revealed a known single nucleotide polymorphism (g.570C > A) in LB line grandparents. PCR – restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for screening the F2 population, which was evaluated for body weight (BW), carcass weight (CW), breast muscle weight (BMW), and breast fillet weight (BFW). Significant associations with the polymorphism were detected for BMW, BFW, BMW% and BFW%, although there were no associations between the polymorphism and BW or CW. The allelic effect on BMW, BFW, BMW% and BFW% acted in additive and dominance modes. We confirmed that the g.570C > A polymorphism is significantly associated with breast muscle yields in the F2 population. Therefore, this polymorphism in the IGF1 gene may help improve breast muscle yields by marker‐assisted selection.     

Expression profiles and associations of muscle regulatory factor (MRF) genes with growth traits in Tibetan chickens

1. Muscle regulatory factors (MRFs), including Myf5, Myf6 (MRF4/herculin), MyoD and MyoG (myogenin), play pivotal roles in muscle growth and development. Therefore, they are considered as candidate genes for meat production traits in livestock and poultry.

2. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression profiles of these genes in skeletal muscles (breast muscle and thigh muscle) at 5 developmental stages (0, 81, 119, 154 and 210 d old) of Tibetan chickens. Relationships between expressions of these genes and growth and carcass traits in these chickens were also estimated.

3. The expression profiles showed that in the breast muscle of both genders the mRNA levels of MRF genes were highest on the day of hatching, then declined significantly from d 0 to d 81, and fluctuated in a certain range from d 81 to d 210. However, the expression of Myf5, Myf6 and MyoG reached peaks in the thigh muscle in 118-d-old females and for MyoD in 154-d-old females, whereas the mRNA amounts of MRF genes in the male thigh muscle were in a narrow range from d 0 to d 210.

4. Correlation analysis suggested that gender had an influence on the relationships of MRF gene expression with growth traits. The RNA levels of MyoD, Myf5 genes in male breast muscle were positively related with several growth traits of Tibetan chickens (P < 0.05). No correlation was found between expressions of MRF genes and carcass traits of the chickens.

5. These results will provide a base for functional studies of MRF genes on growth and development of Tibetan chickens, as well as selective breeding and resource exploration.     

广西10个地方优质品种鸡γ-干扰素基因的克隆与序列分析

根据基因库中鸡γ-干扰素的基因序列设计了1对特异性引物，应用反转录-聚合酶链式反应（RT-PCR）技术，从ConA诱导培养的广西10个地方优质品种鸡外周血淋巴细胞RNA中扩增了γ-干扰素基因，结果，均得到了大小为520 bp的特异性片段。将扩增产物纯化并克隆到pMD18-T载体上，获得重组质粒，经PCR和EcoRⅠ＋SalⅠ双酶切鉴定后测序。序列分析结果表明，广西10个地方优质品种鸡γ-干扰席基因均编码145个氨基酸的成熟蛋白，分子质量约为16．8ku，与哺乳动物和其他品种鸡的核苷酸序列同源性分别为38．8％～39．0％和99．2％～100％，氨基酸序列同源性分别为23．69／6～24．8％和97．6％～99．4％。     

Genome‐wide re‐sequencing and transcriptome analysis reveal candidate genes associated with the pendulous comb phenotype in domestic chickens

To determine the causative variations associated with two chicken comb phenotypes, pendulous comb (PC) or upright comb (UC), two pooled genomic DNA samples from PC and UC chickens were re‐sequenced by Next‐Generation Sequencer, and genome‐wide Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected. Using three selective sweep approaches, F_ST, θπ, and Tajima's D, with top 5% window values serving as the threshold, a total of 84 positively selective genes (PSGs) were identified. There were no SNPs in exons of the PSGs with significant differences in allele frequencies between the two comb phenotype groups. Then, 515 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the PC and UC were identified by RNA‐seq. Three genes including CD36 (CD36 molecule), ADAMTSL3 (ADAMTS‐like 3), and AOX1 (aldehyde oxidases 1) are overlapped between PSGs and DEGs. After genotyping seven candidate SNPs in the regulatory regions of the three overlapping genes in 120 chickens from two other breeds, two variants (rs14607046 and rs731818051) in the regulatory regions of AOX1 and ADAMTSL3 were found to have significant differences in allele frequency between the PC and UC, suggesting that the two variants may be causative mutations for PC. Overall, our study shed light on the genetic basis underlying the PC phenotype in chickens.     

Fine-mapping of quantitative trait loci for body weight and bone traits and positional cloning of the RB1 gene in chicken

Previously, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) that affects body weight (BW) at 4-12 weeks of age and carcass weight at 12 weeks of age had been mapped on chicken chromosome 1. After including more markers and individuals, the confidence interval was narrowed down to approximately 5.5 Mbps and located this QTL near a microsatellite marker (ADL328). This QTL is the same as the QTL for 12 bone traits, including metatarsus length and metatarsus circumference at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age and keel length and metatarsus claw weight at 12 weeks of age, that was identified using the same population. In the current study, 1010 individuals from the Northeast Agricultural University F(2) resource population were used and 14 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) around ADL328 were developed to construct haplotypes, and an association analysis was performed to fine-map the QTL. The haplotypes were constructed on the basis of a sliding 'window', with three SNP markers included in each 'window'. The association analysis results indicated that the haplotypes in 'windows' 6-12 were significantly associated with BW and bone traits and suggested that the QTL for BW and bone traits was located between SNP8 and SNP14 or was in linkage disequilibrium with this region. The interval from SNP8 to SNP14 was approximately 400 kbps. This region contained five RefSeq genes (RB1, P2RY5, FNDC3A, MLNR and CAB39L) on the University of California Santa Cruz website. The RB1 gene was selected as a candidate gene and five SNPs were identified in the gene. The association results indicated that the RB1 gene was a major gene for BW and bone traits. The SNPs g.39692 G>A and g.77260 A>G in RB1 gene might be two quantitative trait nucleotides for BW and bone traits.     

Evaluation of a short interspersed nucleotide element in the 3' untranslated region of the defective dystrophin gene of dogs with muscular dystrophy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the distribution of a 231-base pair (bp) element in the dystrophin gene 3' untranslated region (UTR) in a colony of Golden Retrievers with muscular dystrophy and other unrelated dogs and to estimate the frequency of recombination for the canine dystrophin gene. ANIMALS: 77 dogs from the Golden Retriever Muscular Dystrophy (GRMD) colony at the Murdoch Veterinary School and 30 unrelated dogs from the Murdoch University Veterinary Clinic. PROCEDURE: Samples of blood or hair from dogs were used for amplification of DNA, using primers to the canine dystrophin 3' UTR. RESULTS: The DNA from affected dogs generated a larger PCR product than that obtained from clinically normal dogs. Products were cloned and sequenced, and the difference in size was found to be attributable to a 231-bp short interspersed nucleotide element (SINE). The SINE was found in all affected dogs in the colony but not in most unaffected puppies in the colony. Eighteen of 19 dogs in the colony were heterozygous for the GRMD mutation, and 7 of 30 unrelated dogs also were heterozygous for the SINE. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Evidence of recombination between the GRMD mutation and the SINE was observed in only 4 dogs (2 sets of littermates) in the GRMD colony. Incidence of this SINE in a few unrelated dogs suggests that this particular insertion into the dystrophin gene may have been a recent event. The SINE in the dystrophin 3' UTR did not have an apparent influence on dystrophin mRNA concentrations.     

免疫增强剂对IBD疫苗免疫雏鸡局部黏膜免疫功能的影响

分别将免疫增强剂“禽福”和“Inmunair”与鸡传染性法氏囊病（IBD）中等毒力活疫苗配合使用,检测免疫雏鸡哈德尔氏腺和盲肠扁桃体T细胞及IgA、IgM和IgG抗体生成细胞数量。泪液、气管液、胆汁、肠液中免疫球蛋白IgG、IgM、IgA含量的动态变化,结果发现,应用免疫增强剂IBD疫苗免疫雏鸡上述局部免疫组织及四种局部体液的相应各项免疫检测指标均较IBD疫苗单独免疫雏鸡不同程度地增高,表明免疫增强剂与疫苗联合应用,能显著提高疫苗免疫雏鸡眼部、呼吸道和消化道局部黏膜免疫功能;而IBD强毒攻击后,疫苗单独免疫雏鸡上述指标明显低于应用免疫增强剂的疫苗免疫雏鸡,同时。后者对IBD强毒攻击的有效抵抗力明显高于前者。     

1株野鸭源鸡贫血病病毒的分离鉴定及其编码区基因序列分析

利用MDCC细胞系从东北地区采集的死亡野生鸟类样品中分离获得1株禽类病毒,对该病毒进行特异性PCR、特异性间接免疫荧光法等系统鉴定后,证实该分离株为鸡贫血病病毒(CAV),命名为WDNE110501株.利用PCR方法克隆出其编码区基因片段,测序结果表明,WDNE110501株的编码区全长为1 823 bp,无碱基缺失或插入.并将该基因序列和推导的氨基酸序列与国内外已发表的34个CAV株编码区基因进行同源性和亲缘关系的比对分析,同源性为96.1％～99.8％;氨基酸的同源性为89.8％～99.7％,与国内毒株harbin的差异最小,与国外最近的是美国毒株98D02152.序列比较表明CAV的3个编码基因VP1、VP2和VP3均有一定程度变异,以VP1变异性最大,且在不同毒株间的这3个阅读框的氨基酸序列变异是互不相关的.这是首次在野生鸟类中分离出CAV病毒,提示了我们野生鸟类在鸡传染性贫血病病毒传播和分布中可能起到一定作用.