Page 3 - 48_Freemartinism

Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Mapping

Cytogenet Genome Res 108:355-358 (2005) Cytogenetic and
DOI: 10.11 59/000081531 Genome Research

Freemartinism in river buffalo: clinical and

cytogenetic observations

b
a
a
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L. lannuzzi, G.P. Di Meo, A. Perucatti, F. Ciotola, D. Incarnato, R. Di Palo, b
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V. Peretti, G. Campanile and L. Zicarelli b
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National Research Council (CNR), ISPAAM, Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Gene Mapping, and
b Department of Animal Production and Food Inspection, University of Naples Federico II, Naples (Italy)
Manuscript received 25 March 2004; accepted in revised form for publication by T. Haaf 10 May 2004.

Abstract. During the last five years forty phenotypic female only a reduced size of one testicle in one animal. Clinical obser-
river buffalos with reproductive problems and two phenotypic vations performed in the internal reproductive organs of the
male co-twins of females, raised in the provinces of Caserta and female carriers by both rectal palpation (5 females) and direct
Salerno (southern Italy) underwent cytogenetic investigation. observation after mating (3 females) revealed serious damages
Of the 42 animals studied, 10 freemartins (8 females and 2 varying from complete lack of internal sex adducts (closed vagi-
males) were found with variable percentages of male and na) to hypoplasia of Múllerian ducts and absence (or atrophy)
female blood cells, the majority however showing similar per- of ovaries. All freemartin females were sterile. To our knowl-
centages of both. Of the eight females, six showed normal body edge, this is the first detailed description of freemartinism in
conformation, vagina and clitoris, while two showed some male river buffalo by combining clinical and cytogenetic analyses.
traits (tight pelvis). The two males were apparently normal with Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

The river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis, 2n = 50) is a species of my and sex reversal syndrome (Iannuzzi et al., 2000, 2001,
great economical importance in many countries. In all, it num- 2004). However, the most frequent cases were freemartin
bers about 170 million animals and is increasing, especially in females, a well-known condition in cattle (reviewed by Ruvin-
European countries due to cow milk production quotas, and in sky and Spicer, 1999), where about 90 %1 of the females are
Brazil. In Italy, there is a river buffalo population of about thought to be sterile, but practically unknown in river buffalo.
250,000, over 70% of which are concentrated in the southern Freemartinism is a consequence of placental anastomosis
region of Campania (Zicarelli, 2001). Reproductive problems between co-twins of different sex, which generally occurs dur-
are normally present in the river buffalo farms where this spe- ing the second to third week of embryonic life, prior to sex dif-
cies is raised for milk (mainly in Italy) and meat production. ferentiation, which occurs in about 45-day-old female embryos
Very often, females that have reached the reproductive age con- (Ruvinsky and Spicer, 1999). Furthermore, gonad differentia-
tinue to remain non-pregnant. tion seems to start earlier (one week) in males than in females
Studying these females we noted that some were carriers of (Ruvinsky and Spicer, 1999). Male fetus cells, through the
sex chromosome abnormalities such as X monosomy, X triso- action of both testosterone and anti-Múllerian hormone, are
responsible for the atrophy or complete lack of Múllerian ducts
in the female co-twin (Vigier et al., 1984). This aetiology is well
known in cattle and hence freemartin females are generally
eliminated after birth.
Supported in part by SeSIRCA division of the Campania Regional Authority Agricul-
tural Department. In this study we report the cytogenetic and clinical observa-
Request reprints from: L. Iannuzzi, CNR-ISPAAM tions performed in eight phenotypic female and two phenotyp-
Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Gene Mapping ic male river buffaloes found to be freemartin. To our knowl-
Via Argine, 1085, 80147 Naples-Ponticelli (Italy)
telephone: +39-081-5964977; fax: +39-081-5965291 edge, this is the first detailed description of this phenomenon in
e-mail: L.Iannuzzi@iabbam.na.cnr.i t this species by combining clinical and cytogenetic analyses.

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