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Goats are adapted to live in harsh areas of the world ensuring minimum levels of milk and meat production without much economic input. Scrapie is a fatal prion disease of small ruminants detected in different countries worldwide. Polymorphisms in the prion protein gene (PRNP) modify the degree of susceptibility/resistance to scrapie. PRNP polymorphisms were analysed in the four main Algerian goat breeds (Naine de Kabylie, Arbia, Mozabite, Mekatia), and in two native breeds of South Italy (Aspromontana from Calabria and Cilentana from Campania). The results were compared also with two previously described Sicilian native breeds (Girgentana and Rossa Mediterranea). Seven amino acid substitutions were detected in Naine de Kabylie goat which represents the original native Berber breed. All other breeds presented no more than six variants and common polymorphisms were present at codons, 154 and 240. Isoleucine at 137 was present in Algerian breeds only. The Italian Cilentana shared more variants with Algerian breeds whereas the Aspromontana breed was the only one to show a Serine at 127. Exclusive new variants were not detected since all polymorphisms were already described in other goats worldwide. The scrapie protective allele encoding lysine (K) at codon 222 was detected in the Naine de Kabylie and M’zabite breeds at low-frequency whereas is present with frequencies higher than 10% in all the Italian breeds reared in regions with elevated scrapie incidence. The overall results showed a substantial number of polymorphisms in PRNP, particularly in Naine de Kabylie breed, which carried also unique genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposition of variations between breeds is very important for genetic diversity. Determination of this variation is needed to reveal population structure and relationship between populations and planning national breeding and conservation programmes. This study was carried out in 296 animals from 12 different local sheep breeds (Barbarine, Ouled Djellal, Ifilene, Srandi, Darâa, Rembi, Berbere, Taâdmit, Hamra, Sidaou, Tazegzawt and D'men) reared in different regions of Algeria. Fifteen microsatellite markers were used to determine between breed genetic diversity. The population of 12 sheep breeds studied from Algeria exhibited a high number of alleles (24.67) and polymorphic information content (0.90). Observed heterozygosity values were lower than expected for all molecular markers except INRA0123 locus. Obtained GST value from the present study indicated that 1.9% of total genetic variation resulted from the differences between the breeds. The present study supplied important information to understand between breed genetic differences. Moreover, it has provided the opportunity to discuss with previously reported results. In light of these findings, it can be said that studied microsatellite markers can be successfully used to determine genetic diversity and population structure in Algerian sheep breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast milk is a rich sou0000rce of nutrients. It helps to establish a good intestinal flora of infants. In this context, we have isolated and characterized lactic acid bacteria from human milk and infant feces of the northwest Algerian population (Oran). In the present study, 87 bacterial strains were isolated from breast milk and infant feces samples from 20 mother-infant pairs. Isolates were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing analysis. The results of 16S rDNA sequencing analysis showed that the strains isolated from milk and faecal samples are part of 12 different species belonging to the genera: Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Lactobacillus. A homogeneous distribution was found for the four genera in the two media. Also, several mother/infant pairs shared some bacterial species belonging to different bacterial genera. Comparing the intestinal flora of vaginally delivered infants and those born by Caesarean section, a significant difference was found for the genus Staphylococcus (P-value <0.05) with a high rate among infants born by cesarean section. These results indicate that breast milk and delivery mode may contribute to the infant gut colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coat color is among the most distinctive phenotypes in cattle. Worldwide, several breeds share peculiar coat color features such as the presence of a fawn pigmentation of the calf at birth, turning over time to grey, and sexual dichromatism. The aim of this study was to search for polymorphisms under differential selection by contrasting grey cattle breeds displaying the above phenotype with non-grey cattle breeds, and to identify the underlying genes. Using medium-density SNP array genotype data, a multi-cohort FST-outlier approach was adopted for a total of 60 pair-wise comparisons of the 15 grey with 4 non-grey cattle breeds (Angus, Limousin, Charolais, and Holstein), with the latter selected as representative of solid and piebald phenotypes, respectively. Overall, more than 50 candidate genes were detected; almost all were either directly or indirectly involved in pigmentation, and some of them were already known for their role in phenotypes related with hair graying in mammals. Notably, 17 relevant genes, including SDR16C5, MOS, SDCBP, and NSMAF, were located in a signal on BTA14 convergently observed in all the four considered scenarios. Overall, the key stages of pigmentation (melanocyte development, melanogenesis, and pigment trafficking/transfer) were all represented among the pleiotropic functions of the candidate genes, suggesting the complex nature of the grey phenotype in cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]