Increasingly, conservation genetics pinpoint the use of biological matrices collected without stressing wildlife. Cervid’s antlers seem to fit with this need. We verified the amplification success rate from DNA obtained from red deer antlers collected in the State Nature Reserve of Bosco della Mesola, Northern Italy and its use for conservation purposes. Here occurs the only native red deer population of peninsular Italy, recently recognized as a distinct subspecies (Cervus elaphus italicus). Four antlers stored at room temperature for four years and four samples highly degraded by environmental conditions were analyzed using a multimarker approach. We utilized a simple, inexpensive method to extract DNA from drilled antlers powder. This study confirms that weathered antlers can be a suitable source of DNA also in Mediterranean climate characterized by strong seasonal fluctuations, and not only in dry climates. Our results pointed out that only burr drilling yielded good quality amplifiable DNA. Antlers can be used in particular for molecular genetic studies on rare or threatened species of cervids as providing an efficient and cost-effective non-invasive sampling.
Somatic cell nuclear transfer associated with transgenesis allows the production of animals with beneficial properties that cannot be obtained by conventional breeding programs. Unfortunately these biotechnologies are characterized by a very low efficiency being extremely important to optimize the results of each step from skin biopsy and cloning, until the birth of calf. Animals obtained by cloning have special requirements after birth that must be considered to ensure their survival capacity. Taken into account that there is not much information regarding neonatology of cloned animals, new cases represent a great challenge, and each clinical finding and treatment report should be considered of great value. In this work, we describe all facilities and medical procedures used to ensure the survival of the first bitransgenic bovine clone for human lysozyme and lactoferrin obtained by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), born under clinical patterns of Large Offspring Syndrome (LOS). We summarize all maneuvers performed from cesarean section and primary neonatal evaluation, to intensive cares such as sepsis management, internal medium evaluation and correction, and total parental nutrition over a total period of 80 days.
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