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The investigation of the genes with a role in lipid metabolism enjoy considerable scientific and commercial interest because of the strong correlations between fat deposition and the risk of cardiovascular disease. The fat tail characteristic of sheep is the adaptive response to harsh environment, and beyond representing a valuable energy reserve for facing future climate changes provides clues for elucidating the physiology of fat deposition. Studies on various sheep populations detected fat-tail signatures on chromosomes 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 13. Fat-tailed sheep represent about 25% of the world’s sheep population, and the genes with a role in this phenotype are likely not the same for every breed, since the wild ancestor of sheep had a thin tail, and the fat tail was selected by humans in longstanding husbandry practices in different regions. In the present work, a genome-wide scan using ~50,000 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms was performed to identify selection signatures for the f at tail in the Barbaresca sheep, an Italian breed originating from North Africa. Fst values of differentiation, and χ2 test of significance of allele frequency were calculated, for each marker, between the Barbaresca and each of 13 Italian thin-tailed breeds. Strong signals of selection were detected for all 13 breeds on chromosome 6, in a region encoding the SLIT homolog 2 gene, this gene acting as a molecular guidance cue in cellular migration. The signature on chromosome 7 was very strong only in some of the breeds used for comparison: the detected signal was located in proximity of the Vertnin gene, a candidate for variation in vertebral number, and was already revealed in Iranian and Mediterranean fat-tailed breeds, but not in the Chinese sheep, so confirming the complexity of the fat-tail phenotype, which is associated in some breeds to long and pendulous tail, while, in other breeds, to the short tail.

The 90K Affymetrix Axiom® Buffalo Genotyping Array has been used to genotype river buffalo samples from Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Mozambique, Brazil and Colombia, and swamp buffaloes from China, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Brazil. Model-based clustering algorithms (Admixture and FastStructure software) and graph tools (Treemix and network analysis) have been applied to SNP data to evaluate the levels of molecular diversity and to highlight population structure and migration events. The best-fitting resolution devised by Bayesian clustering highlighted three distinct gene pools in pure river as well as in pure swamp buffalo populations, together with some genomic admixture occurring in the Philippines and in Brazil, in agreement with documented importations of animals for breed improvement purposes. The Mediterranean buffalo and the Carabao breed from Brazil represent the most differentiated gene pools within the river and swamp group, respectively, which is most likely due to genetic bottlenecks, isolation and selection. Gene flow events, evidenced by Treemix and Network analyses, highlighted a likely contribution from the river buffalo gene pool to the admixed swamp populations and, within river buffaloes, from the Mediterranean to the breeds from Colombia and Brazil. When evaluated in a geographical framework, the results of our analyses support archeozoological evidence for the domestication of river and swamp buffalo in the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia, respectively, and furthermore revealed some unexpected patterns of migration, which suggest that the spread of domestic buffaloes out of the domestication center may have followed alternative migration routes.

After sequencing the Buffalo genome, the International Buffalo Consortium has used the derived 90K Affymetrix Axiom® Buffalo Genotyping Array to characterize a set of river buffaloes from Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Mozambique, Brazil and Colombia, and swamp buffaloes from China, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Brazil. SNP genotype data have been analyzed with Bayesian clustering algorithms (ADMIXTURE software), multivariate statistics (Multi- Dimensional Scaling plots) and graph tools highlighting population splits and migration events (TREEMIX software) to estimate the levels of molecular diversity, population structure and the historical relationships among populations. When placed in the geographical context, the patterns of diversity confirmed archeozoological evidence for the domestication of river and swamp buffalo in the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia, respectively, and provided hints on buffalo migrations and history. Admixture analysis revealed the presence of three main gene pools in pure river buffalo populations: one characterizes the breeds from the Indian subcontinent (Pakistan) and those recently exported from there to Bulgaria, Brazil and Colombia; the second includes breeds that, from the domestication center, spread westwards to Iran, Egypt and Turkey; the third includes the Italian Mediterranean buffalo, sampled both in Italy and in Mozambique where it has recently been exported. Among the breeds analysed, Mediterranean buffalo represents the most differentiated river buffalo gene pool, which is most likely due to genetic bottlenecks, isolation, selection and possible genetic contributions from breeds not included in our sampling. Four gene pools have been identified in pure swamp buffalo populations: the first from China; the second in Indonesian islands, other than Sumatra; the third in the Philippines and the fourth in Thailand and Sumatra. Some level of admixture is seen between river and swamp buffalo in the Philippines and in Brazil. TREEMIX software analyses confirmed the gene flows identified by Bayesian population structure analysis including those from the river buffalo gene pool to the admixed swamp populations and, within river buffaloes, from the Mediterranean to the breeds from Colombia and Brazil. Furthermore, these analyses revealed some unexpected migration patterns, which suggest that the westward spread of domestic buffaloes may have followed alternative migration routes.

The current availability of large numbers of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) throughout the genome makes these markers particularly suitable for the detection of patterns of genetic diversity and of genome-wide homozygosity in animal populations. The aim of this work was to estimate genetic diversity and homozygosity in the Maremmana cattle breed. We used a sample of 149 animals (males and females) geno-typed with the BovineSNP50 v2 (54K) Illumina BeadChip. After editing for call-rate >0.9 and removing SNP unassigned or on the sex chromosomes, 128 animals and 50,814 SNPs were left. We estimated the following genetic parameters: observed and expected heterozygosity (Ho and He), minor allele frequency (MAF), and the F IS statistic. We also scanned the genome for runs of homozygosity (ROH). In the present study, ROH were detected based on 20-SNP-long sliding-windows , and allowing for a maximum of 1 missing and 1 het-erozygote genotype, and a maximum gap between consecutive SNP of 10 5 bp. ROH contained minimum 10 SNPs, and had a minimum length of 1 Mb and a minimum density of 1 SNP every 50 kbps. The average Ho and He were 0.374 ± 0.132 and 0.365 ± 0.120, respectively, and the average MAF was 0.274 ± 0.130. These values are consistent with the range observed in other cattle breeds. We obtained some negative values for F IS (-0.162 to 0.180) which corresponded to animals with lower than average homozygosity. In total, 10,465 ROH were detected (81.75 per animal), with an average length of 2.69 Mb. Most ROH (74%) had length 2 Mb. ROH are contiguous lengths of homozygous genomic segments where the two inherited hap-lotypes are identical. ROH indicate genomic regions where a reduction in heterozygosity occurred, and offer new opportunities to estimate inbreeding (F). The inbreeding coefficient based on ROH (F ROH) was estimated by the ratio between the total ROH length and the size of the genome in each animal. Average F ROH was 0.0869 ± 0.032. Unlike inbreeding estimated based on Ho, F ROH is not influenced by allele frequencies (sampling) and can distinguish recent from ancient inbreeding. However, F ROH requires SNP positions to be known (unlike Ho). Two genomic regions with ROH in over 60% of the animals were found: one on BTA6 (38.6-39.7 Mbps), one on BTA13 (54.3-54.8 Mbps). These may highlight regions where selective pressures have shaped the genome of the Maremmana breed .

Extensive metabolic profiles of body fluids, obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic or mass spectroscopic data, can provide information to deduce the effects of many different factors on biological processes. In particular, genetic factors can determine differences in physiological processes that are captured by metabolomics or metabonomics analyses. In this study we compared metabonomic profiles obtained from serum of two pig breeds (Italian Large White and Italian Duroc) with the aim to disentangle breed specific biological aspects. Twelve castrated males (6 Italian Large White and 6 Italian Duroc) were raised at the test station of the National Pig Breeders Association (ANAS) in the same conditions till they reached a live weight of about 160 kg. After a period of starvation, early in the morning pigs were transported all together at a commercial slaughterhouse, electrically stunned and jugulated within 10 minutes. Collected blood sample were processed after about 2 hours and serum was stored at -80°C till use. High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning-NMR serum spectra were recorded with a Bruker AVANCE spectrometer. Each sample was analysed in triplicate. Preliminary Principal Component Analysis of the obtained NMR spectra indicated that metabonomic analysis could be able to distinguish breed specific metabolic profiles. These results might represent useful information to disclose genetically determined regulatory pathways contributing to understand breed differences in biological processes indirectly linked with production traits.

Nel Volume vengono descritte le più innovative tecnologie di genetica molecolare che trovano ampie applicazioni nel settore zootecnico per l'identificazione dei geni che controllano le produzioni animali. Vengono inoltre riportate le potenzialità che la genetica molecolare può offrire per il miglioramento genetico delle specie di interesse zootecnico. Nel lavoro di pag 181 riportato negli Atti del Congresso vengono in particolare descritte queste tematiche con riferimento al miglioramento della produzione e della qualità della carne bovina e suina.

Objetivo: Este trabajo ha evaluado la efectividad de un protocolo de tratamiento psicológico grupal, orientación cognitivo-conductual en pacientes con fibromialgia (SFM). Método: Cuarenta y ocho mujeres con SFM completaron una evaluación inicial y final "Entrevista a Pacientes de Dolor" adaptada de Phillips (1988) "Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck"de Beck y cols. (1988); "Inventario de Depresión de Beck" de Beck y cols. (1961) adaptación de Conde y cols. (1976); "Cuestionario de Refuerzos" de Phillamy y Lewinsohn (1971), adaptación de Carrillo y cols. (1979); "Escala Analógica Visual del Dolor"; "Inventario del Concepto de Sí Mismo" de McKay y Fanning (1987). Resultados: Los datos muestran diferencias significativas después de la intervención, en valores de ansiedad, depresión, dolor y un incremento de actividades en la vida diaria. Conclusiones: Estos datos apoyan la validez de la intervención psicológica en el abordaje de la fibromialgia. Objective: This work tries to evaluate the effectiveness of a protocol of group psychological treatment, cognitive-behavioral direction in patients with fibromyalgia (SFM). Method: Forty-eight women with SFM completed an initial evaluation and final "Interview to Patients of Pain" adapted Phillips (1988) "Inventory of Anxiety of Beck" from Beck et al. (1988); "Inventory of Depression of Beck" from Beck et al. (1961) adaptation from Count et al. (1976); "Questionnaire of Reinforcements" from Phillamy and Lewinsohn (1971), adaptation from Cheek et al. (1979); "Visual Analogical Scale of the Pain"; "Inventory of the Concept of Itself" from McKay and Fanning (1987). Results: The data show significant differences after the intervention, in values of anxiety, depression, and pain and show an increase of activities in the daily life. Conclusions: These data support the validity of the psychological intervention in the boarding of the fibromyalgia.

Objetivo: Este trabajo ha evaluado la efectividad de un protocolo de tratamiento psicológico grupal, orientación cognitivo-conductual en pacientes con fibromialgia (SFM). Método: Cuarenta y ocho mujeres con SFM completaron una evaluación inicial y final "Entrevista a Pacientes de Dolor" adaptada de Phillips (1988) "Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck"de Beck y cols. (1988); "Inventario de Depresión de Beck" de Beck y cols. (1961) adaptación de Conde y cols. (1976); "Cuestionario de Refuerzos" de Phillamy y Lewinsohn (1971), adaptación de Carrillo y cols. (1979); "Escala Analógica Visual del Dolor"; "Inventario del Concepto de Sí Mismo" de McKay y Fanning (1987). Resultados: Los datos muestran diferencias significativas después de la intervención, en valores de ansiedad, depresión, dolor y un incremento de actividades en la vida diaria. Conclusiones: Estos datos apoyan la validez de la intervención psicológica en el abordaje de la fibromialgia.