Horse choanae are directionally asymmetric / Las coanas de los caballos son direccionalmente asimétricas

SUMMARY: Studies related to the upper respiratory pathway asymmetries are still scarce in the veterinary literature. We present here a study of choanae asymmetries of a pure horses belonging to "Cavall Pirinenc Català" (Pyrenean Horse Breed). For this goal, the palates of 23 dry skulls with no apparent pathologies were photographed and evaluated using geometric morphometrics. On each photo, we identified and digitized a total of 26 points (subset of 2 mid-sagittal, 4 paired landmarks (discrete homologous points) and 10 semilandmarks (points on an outline determined by extrinsic criteria) per side on the choana. Both fluctuating and directional asymmetries appeared statistically significant, the latter accounting more than half of the total variation. The lateral bend observed in horse choanae may be due to the asymmetrically positioned nasal passages. So detected equine choana asymmetry must rather be considered functional, with no clinical implication and presents an important consideration when equine choanae shape.

RESUMEN: Los estudios relacionados con las asimetrías de las vías respiratorias superiores aún son escasos en la literatura veterinaria. Presentamos un estudio de coanas asimetrías de un caballo puro perteneciente al "Cavall Pirinenc Català" (Raza del Caballo de los Pirineos). Para ello, se fotografiaron y evaluaron los paladares de 23 cráneos secos sin patologías aparentes mediante morfometría geométrica. En cada foto, identificamos y digitalizamos un total de 26 puntos (subconjunto de 2 puntos medio sagitales, 4 puntos de referencia emparejados (puntos homólogos discretos) y 10 puntos semillanos (puntos en un contorno determinado por criterios extrínsecos) por lado de la coana. Ambos fluctúan Las asimetrías direccionales aparecieron estadísticamente significativas, representando estas últimas más de la mitad de la variación total. La curvatura lateral observada en las coanas de caballo puede deberse a los conductos nasales asimétricamente posicionados. Por lo tanto, la asimetría de coanas equinas detectada debería considerarse funcional, sin implicación clínica y presenta una importante consideración cuando se forman coanas equinas.

Anatomic Veterinary Usage: Discussion Around Technical Nomenclature Vs. Jargon.

This article discusses some examples of problems derived from the mix of technical jargon and anatomical veterinary words and makes recommendations regarding their use according to specific situations.

Diferente asimetría craneal según sexo en el conejo toy / Different skull asymmetry according to sex in toy rabbits

RESUMEN: Los conejos denominados toy son seleccionados por su apariencia pedomórfica ('infantilizada'). El objetivo principal de este estudio fue analizar las asimetrías craneales en este tipo de conejo. Para ello, se estudiaron un total de 46 cráneos adultos (9 machos y 37 hembras), recurriéndose a técnicas de morfométrica geométrica a partir 10 hitos anatómicos pareados y 3 en el plano sagital, en la cara dorsal del cráneo. Nuestra hipótesis es que a través de la selección artificial en los machos (objetivo principal para la obtención de nuevos fenotipos) las asimetrías se expresarán como valores de asimetría más altos. El tamaño de los cráneos resultó similar entre ambos sexos, pero presentaban la asimetría fluctuante fue mayor en machos. La asimetría fluctuante se considera un indicador negativo de la capacidad de resistir pequeñas anomalías en su desarrollo, anomalías que son generalmente el resultado de estrés genético o ambiental. En otras palabras, los machos estarían sujetos a una selección más fuerte y, en consecuencia, se verían más afectados por el manejo, en comparación con las hembras. Estos resultados pueden facilitar la comprensión de los patrones y procesos subyacentes al dimorfismo sexual en fenotipos extremos, como lo son los de los conejos toy.

SUMMARY: Toy rabbits are selected for their paedomorphic ('babyish') appearance. The main objective of this study is to analyse the skull asymmetries of toy rabbits. For this purpose, a total of 46 adult skulls (9 males and 37 females) were studied. Geometric morphometric technique with five pairs of anatomical landmarks and three on sagittal plane on dorsal aspect of skull was used. Our hypothesis is that through artificial selection on males (which are the main subject for obtaining new phenotypes among toys) asymmetries will be expressed as higher asymmetrical values. Skulls' size was similar between sexes, but males presented a higher level of fluctuating asymmetry. Fluctuating asymmetry indicates a negative ability to buffer subtle developmental anomalies, normally from genetic or environmental origin. In other words, males would be under stronger directed selection and consequently be more affected by management (including selective) factors compared to females. These results can allow a better understanding of the patterns and processes underlying sexual shape dimorphism, especially with extreme phenotypes, as toy rabbits are.

Elliptical Fourier descriptors of outline and morphological analysis in caudal view of foramen magnum of the tropical raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) (Linnaeus, 1758).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate sexual-size dimorphism and attempt at categorization of inter-individual shapes of foramen magnum outlines using Fourier descriptors which allow for shape outline evaluations with a resultant specimen character definition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individual characterization and quantification of foramen magnum shapes in direct caudal view based on elliptical Fourier technique was applied to 46 tropical raccoon skulls (26 females, 20 males). RESULTS: Incremental number of harmonics demonstrates morphological contributions of such descriptors with their relations to specific anatomical constructions established. The initial harmonics (1st to 3rd) described the general foramen shapes while the second (4th to 12th) demonstrated fine morphological details. Sexual-size dimorphism was observed in females (87.1%) and 91.7% in males, normalization of size produces 75% in females and 83% in males. With respect to foramen magnum dimorphism analysis, the result obtained through elliptic Fourier analysis was comparatively better in detail information of outline contours than earlier classical methods. The first four effective principal components defined 70.63% of its shape properties while the rest (22.51%) constituted fine details of morphology. CONCLUSION: Both size and shape seems important in sexual dimorphisms in this species, this investigation suggest clinical implications, taxonomic and anthropologic perspectives in foramen characterization magnum characterization and further postulates an increased possibility of volume reduction cerebellar protrusion, ontogenic magnum shape irregularities in the sample population with neurologic consequences especially among females.

Elliptic Fourier Analysis in the Study of the Male Genitalia to Discriminate Three Macrolophus Species (Hemiptera: Miridae).

Within the genus Macrolophus (Heteroptera: Miridae), the species M. costalis (Fieber), M. melanotoma (Costa) and M. pygmaeus (Rambur) are present in the Mediterranean region on a wide variety of plant species. While M. costalis can easily be separated from the other two by the black tip at the scutellum, M. pygmaeus and M. melanotoma are cryptic species, extremely similar to one another in external traits, which has resulted in misidentifications. M. pygmaeus is an efficient biological control agent, both in greenhouse and field crops. The misidentification of these cryptic species could limit the effectiveness of biological control programs. Although the morphology of the left paramere of the male genitalia has been used as a character for identification of these two cryptic species, there is controversy surrounding the reliability of this character as a taxonomic tool for these species. Using geometric morphometric techniques, which are a powerful approach in detecting slight shape variations, the left parameres from these three Macrolophus species were compared. The paramere of M. costalis was larger and had a different shape to that of M. melanotoma and M. pygmaeus; however, no differences in size or shape were found between the left paramere of M. melanotoma and that of M. pygmaeus. Therefore, our results confirm that this character is too similar and it cannot be used to discriminate between these two cryptic species.

A limit for antler length in captive marals / Límite del largo de cuernos del ciervo colorado en cautiverio

The main aim of this study was to estimate phenotypic correlations among live weight, withers height, rump height, chest depth, chest width, thoracic girth, body length, hip widths (between iliac tuberosities and between ischial tuberosities) and forelimb cannon perimeter with antler length measured during the growth of marals on a Kazakh farm. The data comprised 18 animals studied during their growth (at 18 months and at 24 months). In maral, the first period of antler productivity takes place at the age of 24 months. This fact should be taken into account in order to select the best animals for antler production, which is the main purpose for farming this species.

El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar en ciervos colorados de una granja de Kazajstán, las correlaciones fenotípicas entre el peso vivo, altura a la cruz, la profundidad del pecho, ancho de pecho, circunferencia torácica, longitud del cuerpo, ancho de cadera (entre tuberosidades ilíacas e isquiáticas) y perímetro del miembro anterior, con el largo de cuernos medido durante su crecimiento. Los datos de este estudio comprendieron 18 animales durante su crecimiento (entre los 18 y 24 meses). En el ciervo colorado el período inicial de la productividad de cuernos tiene lugar a los de 24 meses de edad. Este hecho se debe tener en cuenta para seleccionar los mejores animales para la producción de cuernos, objetivo principal para la crianza de esta especie.

No difference in antler asymmetries between two captive maral deer populations / No existen diferencias de asimetría de las astas entre dos poblaciones de ciervo rojo en cautiverio

The objective of this study was to investigate asymmetry in antlers of Caspian Red Deer or maral (Cervus elaphus sibiricus) from two different genetic origins and maintained under similar conditions. Eighteen male Caspian Red Deer aged 24 months were studied. Nine animals belonged to the local Kazakh population and nine were directly imported Russian deer. The following data were obtained for right and left antlers: wet weight, stem length and circle and 1st, 2nd and 3rd shoot lengths. To obtain the values of antler asymmetries we used the absolute differences between the value of each trait on left and right sides. According to values of asymmetries obtained, the two populations neither showed differences from each other nor exhibited consistent directional trends in mean measures. Therefore, it could be concluded that Russian marals have adapted well to environmental conditions, presenting no different levels of environmental stress in relation to local Kazakh ones.

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la asimetría en las astas del Ciervo Rojo del Mar Caspio o Maral (Cervus elaphus sibiricus) en dos rebaños de origen genético diferente y mantenidos bajo condiciones similares. Se estudiaron 18 ciervos rojos del mar Caspio (machos) de 24 meses de edad. Nueve de los 18 animales pertenecían a la población nativa de Kazajistán y nueve fueron importados directamente desde Rusia. Se obtuvieron los siguientes datos para las astas derecha e izquierda: peso húmedo, longitud del tallo, circunferencia y primera, segunda y tercera longitud de los cuernos. Para obtener los valores de asimetrías de las astas se registraron las diferencias absolutas entre el valor de cada rasgo, izquierdo y derecho. De acuerdo a los valores obtenidos de las asimetrías, no se registraron diferencias entre ambas poblaciones, tampoco se observaron tendencias direccionales consistentes en el promedio de medidas. El ciervo rojo ruso se ha adaptado bien a las condiciones ambientales y no presentó niveles de estrés ambiental diferentes en relación con los animales nativos de Kazajistán.

An analysis of sexual size dimorphism in goose.

1. Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is a common phenomenon in animals. Rensch's rule states that larger species generally exhibit a higher male to female body size ratio than smaller ones. 2. Domesticated animals offer excellent opportunities for testing predictions of the functional explanations of Rensch's rule and this was tested in a meta-analysis of SSD in 38 breeds of domestic geese compared among themselves and with their wild relatives (subfamily Anserinae, 35 species). 3. Domestic geese and wild Anser species taken together supported Rench's rule but the wild species did not. 4. The non-targeted sex selection hypothesis seems to provide the best intuitive explanation for the lack of SSD in geese.

Size and shape variability in the skull of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821).

The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a widely spread cetacean species. We present a quantitative analysis of age dimorphism variation in the skull of T. truncatus assessed by geometric morphometrics (GM) methods. Differences in size and shape of skulls were investigated using eight landmarks plotted on 2-D images of ventral views of 14 museum specimens. The results of GM revealed differences in size, but not in shape. The left side appears more variable, which is probably an effect of telescoping.

Evaluation of obturator foramen suggests no differences between sexes in young bovines.

Among the numerous bovine pelvic traits displaying sex differences, no detailed studies of bovine obturator foramen are available in the veterinary literature. The purpose of this work was to study quantitatively this structure using lineal biometrics, shape indexes and Fourier analysis. The material consisted of 60 hemicoxae belonging to young bovines of approximately 1 year of age. Although significant differences were found in area, perimeter and length of obturator foramen, none of the analyses used were able to differentiate between sexes and thus cannot be used as a natural trait for determining sex, at least in young bovines.

Basicranial analysis in young bovines reveals a relation to breed and sex.

The purpose of this article was to examine the level of sexual dimorphism exhibited in the foramen magnum and occipital condyles of bovine juveniles and to test the utility of three basicranial measurements for estimating sex and to evaluate breed differences. Data were taken from 68 bovines of known sex, age and breed. The linear foramen magnum measurements (breadth and height) were not effective in determining the sex of the skulls, but there appeared differences of the occipital bicondylar breadth between sexes and breeds evaluated ('Bruna dels Pirineus' and others). The occipital bicondylar breadth assigned the sex correctly 75% of the cases. The study of occipital bicondylar breadth could thus be effective to obtain reliable results for the determination of sex in bovine skulls and also could be taken into account when differentiating breeds. It is considered that this study will make morphological contributions to develop a comparative model for other domestic bovine breeds, for there is inadequate literature on foramen magnum morphology for domestic species contrary to the richness of these kinds of studies on humans. The results obtained in this study can also be useful as baseline research data in comparative neuroanatomy and in neuropathology. Focusing on zooarchaeology and also on forensic veterinary, simple morphometric analysis of this type can be used as part of an investigative process prior to more sophisticated and expensive analyses such as the DNA examination.

Predicting horse skin weight from carcass weight / Predicción del peso de la piel de caballo a partir del peso de la canal

A study was conducted to provide information on the skin weight of Pyrenean horses and to determine whether there is a measurement to predict this based on carcass weight. Hot carcass weight (HCW) and fresh skin weight (SW) were recorded for 58 horses aged 12 months entering a Catalan commercial slaughter facility between September 2009 and June 2010. Data on the breeder, age and coat characteristics were collected and subsequently collated for each animal. Prior to analysis, horses were subdivided into sex and coat groups. Data did not differ (P < 0.001) among these. The absence of differences in SW could be viewed as a reflection of limited nutritional differences between seasons. Regression procedures were used to develop equations to predict SW from HCW. Equations predicting SW had significant bias, 7.3-7.5 kg, and low R2 values. The coefficients of determination obtained for predicting skin weight were not satisfactory and therefore validation was not considered worthwhile.

Se realizó un estudio para proporcionar información sobre el peso de la piel de los caballos de los Pirineos y para determinar si existe una medida para predecir esta, basado en el peso de la canal. Peso de la canal caliente (PS) y peso de la piel fresca (SW) se registraron en 58 caballos de 12 meses provenientes de un centro comercial Catalán faenador entre septiembre de 2009 y junio de 2010. Los datos sobre las características reproductoras, la edad y el pelo se recogieron y posteriormente cotejados para cada animal. Antes del análisis, los caballos fueron subdivididos en grupos de sexo y pelaje. Los datos no fueron diferentes (P<0,001) entre estos. La ausencia de diferencias en el SW podría ser visto como un reflejo de la limitada diferencias nutricionales entre las estaciones. Procedimientos de regresión fueron utilizados para desarrollar ecuaciones para predecir SW desde el PS. Las ecuaciones de predicción SW tenía un sesgo significativo, 7,3-7,5 kg, y valores bajos R2. Los coeficientes de determinación obtenidos para la predicción de peso de la piel no fueron satisfactorios, por lo que la validación no se consideró que vale la pena.

On biometrical aspects of the cephalic anatomy of xisqueta sheep (Catalunya, Spain) / Aspectos biométricos de la anatomía cefálica de la oveja xisqueta (Cataluña, España)

This study, based on a 48 Xisqueta skull samples, gives a statistical insight of the skull shape in this breed. Thirty eight measurements and eight indexes were recorded. The variance structure was done using a Principal Component Analysis (PCA). This was possible sequel to the application and permission of the covariance matrix. The mean length of the skulls was found to be 265.51 +/- 22.24 mm, with the width and cephalic index to the magnitude of 117.2 +/- 6.89 mm and 44.69 +/- 4.29 mm, respectively. The viscerocranium length was 143.07 +/- 9.74 mm thus indicating a similar portion with the neurocranium part of the skull (137.17 +/- 6.25 mm). The orbit was slightly almond shaped. Variability was generally high within parameters but parameter variation was less in regard to basal surface length parameters than the others. The results from Principal Component Analysis indicated that skull variance was concentrated on the first two components. The first principal component explained 99.21 percent of the generalized variance in skull parameters and gave special emphasis to viscerocranium. The second principal component may be called the neurocranial component. The first and the second principal components explained 99.77 percent of the observed variance. The third principal component was related with foramen magnum and orbital parameters.

Este estudio, basado en una muestra de 48 cráneos de Xisqueta, da una visión estadística de la biometría del cráneo de esta raza. Treinta y ocho mediciones y ocho índices fueron tomados. La longitud media de los cráneos se encontraron entre 265,51 +/- 22,24 mm con el ancho e índice cefálico con la magnitud de 117,2 +/- 6,89 mm y 44,69 +/- 4,29 mm respectivamente. La longitud del viscerocráneo fue 143,07 +/- 9,74 mm, lo que indica una porción similar con la parte del neurocráneo (137,17 +/- 6,25 mm). La órbita tuvo una forma ligeramente de almendra. La variabilidad fue generalmente alta dentro de los parámetros, pero fueron menores en la longitud de la superficie basal. La estructura de varianza se realizó utilizando un Análisis de Componentes Principales (ACP). Esto fue posible gracias a la aplicación y la permisividad de la matriz de covarianza. La solución del ACP indica que la varianza del cráneo se concentró en los dos primeros componentes. El primer componente principal explicó el 99,21 por ciento de la varianza generalizada en los parámetros de cráneo y prestó especial atención al viscerocráneo. El segundo componente principal se puede llamar el componente neurocráneo. El primer y el segundo componente principal explicaron 99,77 por ciento de la varianza observada. El tercer componente principal estaba relacionado con el foramen magno y los parámetros orbitales.

Rapid fluorescence in situ hybridization on interphasic nuclei to discriminate between homozygous and heterozygous transgenic mice.

Homozygous and heterozygous transgenic mice of the Tg152 line overexpressing the human copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (hSOD-1) were rapidly differentiated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using interphase lymphocyte nuclei. We have devised a simple and fast method for preparing interphase nuclei with very small quantities of whole mouse blood, avoiding several steps of the classical FISH technique. Lymphocyte separation and cell culture were not required. This technique provides an excellent tool for the unambiguous detection of homozygous and heterozygous transgenic mice in a litter. It can be used to check young animals since 2 microliters of whole blood is sufficient. We also show that in this transgenic line numerous copies of the hSOD-1 transgene are integrated at a single autosomal locus, in tandem head-to-tail organization.