A CASE OF CENTRIC FUSION TRANSLOCATION IN A DEONI (BOS INDICUS) INDIAN CATTLE BULL CALF

Introduction: Translocations are very common in cattle This is the first report on the Robertsonian translocation in phenotypically normal Deoni cattle bull calf out of 458 cattle breeds of Indian origin Bos indicus screened so far to detect chromosomal aberrations during routine investigation. Objective: Detection of chromosomal aberrations in breeding bulls as the aberrations are associated to fertility problem in domestic animals. Method: Lymphocyte culture was set in a growth medium, RPMI-1640 supplemented with fetal calf serum, antibiotics, and mitogen. Culture was incubated at 37 degree C for 72 hrs and metaphase was arrested for chromosome study. Results: All metaphase chromosomes exhibited 59 chromosomes instead of 60. Cytogenetic investigation revealed the less chromosome numbers are because of centric fusion of two chromosomes; probably involving chromosome number 16 and 20. Conclusion: This is the first report of Deoni cattle (Bos indicus) as usually translocation or centric fusions are common chromosomal aberrations of Bos taurus cattle. Animals with centric fusion may not be used for artificial programme as the abnormality can cause repeat breeding problem in breedable female population.