A FAST, CONVENIENT DIAGNOSIS OF THE BOVINE FREEMARTIN SYNDROME USING POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

To establish the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detecting the XY cells in cases suspected to have the bovine freemartin syndrome , a PCR reaction test was conducted on blood from a normal bull dilute d in blood from a normal cow. From the results obtained, it was shown that the Y-specific sequence was detectable down to a concentration of 0.1%. Various types of the bovine freemartin syndrome, which occurs i n heterosexual twins, single-born sterile heifers, and heifers born wi th Acardius amorphus, were examined by the chromosome analysis and the PCR method. The Y-specific sequence was detected in all 26 cases that showed chromosome chimerism but which was absent in the 5 cases witho ut a chimerism. The PCR method was found to be effective and convenien t for quickly diagnosing the various types of bovine freemartin syndro me.