The water buffalo: evolutionary, clinical and molecular cytogenetics

• Main Author: L. Iannuzzi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2010-02-01
• Series: Italian Journal of Animal Science
• Subjects: River buffalo, Evolution, Chromosome abnormality, Fertility
• Online Access: http://www.aspajournal.it/index.php/ijas/article/view/964

Although buffalo population is about 1/10 of that of cattle, buffaloes interest a larger human population, especially in the east countries. For this reason, this species is of great economic importance. Two main species of buffalo are found in the world: the Asiatic (water) buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). These two different species have both two different sub-species differing in diploid number but interbreeding within the same genus. The water buffalo, especially the river type (2n=50), is the most important one and a summary of the most important cytogenetic findings obtained until now in this species is reported in this paper.