Sex identification of the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss by polymerase chain reaction

A polymerase chain reaction-based test for rapid sex identification of the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss has been elaborated. Using the data deposited with the NCBI genome bank, nucleotide sequences of the specific sex-linked locus of salmonid species have been analyzed and the oligonucleotide primers have been selected. The length of the amplification products is 800 nucleotide pairs. Amplification specificity has been tested by nucleotide analysis of the amplicon sequences. All PCR products match the Ychromosome region housing the corresponding specific locus. A comparative analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the fragments carrying the rainbow trout (and other salmonid species) sex-linked marker demonstrates a high degree of identity, amounting to 95-99%. The maximal identity between the sequences (99%) is observed when analyzing representatives of the same genus, for example, Oncorhynchus. Thus, the sex is detectable by a simple PCR test, thereby allowing the male revertants emerging via hormonal sex reversion to be identified. This test is a rapid diagnostic method, since it requires only 1 day for testing and informing the fish farm on its results. Results of abdomen opening of rainbow trout revertants and examination of their hormonal status are also described.