Screening for genetic disorders in Indian Murrah and Surti buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bulls

Abstract

Genetic disorders constitute a menacing threat whose consequences often become evident only after several generations of breeding, when short-term, low cost solutions are no longer possible. The present study involved screening of 135 buffaloes viz. Murrah buffalo (n=106) and Surti buffalo (n=29) bulls for autosomal recessive genetic disorders such as Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (BLAD), Deficiency of Uridine Monophosphate Synthase (DUMPS), Bovine Citrullinemia (BC) and Factor XI Deficiency (FXID) using PCR based techniques. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood by High Salt Method and the fragments of genes of interest were amplified by PCR technique. The amplified PCR products were digested with TaqI, AvaI and AvaII restriction enzymes for BLAD, DUMPS, and BC, respectively. Bulls were screened for FXID based on PCR conformation. The screening of Murrah and Surti bulls revealed that none of the buffaloes screened were carrier for BLAD, DUMPS, BC and FXID.