Karyotype Polymorphism in Indigenous Goats from two Zambian Provinces

Abstract

Blood samples drawn from 20 goats in Southern and Eastern provinces (Choma, Gwembe, Mazabuka, Petauke, Katete and Chipata) were analysed by the leucocyte culture method and findings presented in idiograms. Goats from these two regions had 60 diploid chromosome number (58 autosomes and 2 sex- chromosomes). Mazabuka had the lowest mean relative chromosome length of 3.21 (with a 95 percent confidence interval of 2.71 to 3.71) while Gwembe and katete had highest mean relative chromosome length, being 3.33 (2.89 to 3.77, 95 percent confidence interval). Between ales and females, males had a lower mean relative chromosome length, (males 3.22 with a 95 percent confidence interval of 2.76 to 3.68; while females 3.33, with 2.89 to 3.77 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval). All autosomes were acrocentric. For the sex-chromosome pair, females had medium-sized acrocentric X-chromosomes while males had a large acrocentric X-chromosome and a small dot-like Y-chromosome. The results from the goats in these two provinces revealed similar Karyotypes, indicating that they are likely to be related. There were no aberrations observed. Due to small sample size, this study is not a definitive study; therefore, further research should be conducted to verify the chromatin band resemblances and differences through other staining procedures. Similar work should also be undertaken in the remaining provinces. There were two main objectives associated with this study: A)To determine karyotype differences in species of some Zambian indigenous goats; and B)To evaluate the occurrences of karyotype abnormalities in Zambian indigenous goats.