In dogs, meningiomas and gliomas appear to occur most frequently. Most primary brain tumors are solitary, but multiple primary brain tumors have been reported. Secondary or metastatic tumors appear to be less common and may result from local extension (e.g. nasal adenocarcinoma) or metastases from primary tumors elsewhere. Skull tumors may affect the brain by local extension. Although brain tum...

There is considerable interest in locally adapted breeds of livestock as reservoirs of genetic diversity that may provide important fitness traits for future use in agriculture. In marginal areas, these animals contribute to food security and extract value from land unsuitable for other systems of farming. In England, close to 50% of the national sheep flock is farmed on grassland designated as...

Many dog breeds are bred specifically for increased performance in scent-based tasks. Whether dogs bred for this purpose have higher olfactory capacities than other dogs, or even wolves with whom they share a common ancestor, has not yet been studied. Indeed, there is no standard test for assessing canine olfactory ability. This study aimed to create a simple procedure that requires no pre-trai...

Information on genetic structure and variability of livestock breeds is critical for efficient conservation plans. Here we present molecular characterization of 5 Indian grey colored cattle breeds from northern and western parts of India on the basis of 21 FAO recommended microsatellite markers. Kankrej breed has its native tract in the state of Gujarat, Tharparkar, Nagori and Mewati in Rajasth...

This review compiles the results of 21 genomic studies of European Bos taurus breeds and thus provides a general picture of the selection signatures in taurine cattle identified by genome-wide selection-mapping scans. By performing a comprehensive summary of the results reported in the literature, we compiled a list of 1049 selection sweeps described across 37 cattle breeds (17 beef breeds, 14 ...

The origin of Iberian cattle has been suggested by some authors to be the product of European and north African cattle entrances during the last few thousands of years. However, these hypotheses were mainly based on morphological similarities. This study analyzed 889 unrelated individuals from 15 representative Iberian breeds and 3 French breeds for 16 microsatellite loci. Statistical tests wer...

BACKGROUND The tendency for male-larger sexual size dimorphism (SSD) to scale with body size - a pattern termed Rensch's rule - has been empirically supported in many animal lineages. Nevertheless, its theoretical elucidation is a subject of debate. Here, we exploited the extreme morphological variability of domestic dog (Canis familiaris) to gain insights into evolutionary causes of this rule....

In Italy, the crisis of the wool industry triggered the necessity to reconvert the two traditional Merino-derived breeds, Gentile di Puglia and Sopravissana, to meat production, by creating the Merinizzata Italiana. The aim of the present study was to assess the genetic diversity of these three Italian Merino-derived (IMd) breeds by examining the molecular information encoded in the maternally-...

BACKGROUND Canine necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME) is a fatal, noninfectious inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. NME has been reported only in a small number of dog breeds, which has led to the presumption that it is a breed-restricted disorder. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES Our objective was to describe histopathologically confirmed NME in dog breeds in which the condition has not been re...

Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is defined by left ventricular hypertrophy without causative systemic or other cardiac disease. It is the most common form of heart disease in the cat. The etiology for the majority of cases is unknown. However, it is inherited in Maine coon and ragdoll breeds and is believed to be in the American shorthair, sphynx, Norwegian ...