Background
X monosomy is the most common disorder of sex development in horses. Although cytogenetic analysis is still the gold standard in the diagnosis of equine X monosomy, novel molecular techniques are being sought to quickly and reliably detect this chromosome abnormality.
Objectives
The goal of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a novel variant of the PCR technique—namely, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)—in the detection of X monosomy in mares.
Study design
A proof of concept of the usefulness of ddPCR in diagnosing an abnormal number of X chromosomes in mares.
Methods
We examined an infertile mare using cytogenetic (fluorescent in situ hybridisation—FISH) and molecular (droplet digital PCR—ddPCR) techniques. The X chromosome copy number in ddPCR was estimated via detection of the AMELX gene copy number. In addition, 70 mares homozygous for X‐linked microsatellite marker (LEX3) were examined by ddPCR. For all mares, a PCR search for the Y‐linked SRY gene was also performed.
Results
Cytogenetic analysis and ddPCR gave concordant results, indicating pure X monosomy in the studied mare. Of the 70 additional mares examined by ddPCR, a single copy of the X chromosome was found in two cases. All mares were SRY‐negative and thus both freemartinism, manifested by leucocyte XX/XY chimerism, and sex reversal syndrome (XX, SRY‐positive) could be excluded.
Main limitations
The ddPCR approach does not allow for unequivocal identification of mosaicism (63,X/64,XX or 65,XXX/64,XX), but may give an indication that further cytogenetic analysis is necessary.
Conclusion
The ddPCR approach appeared to be useful for diagnosing nonmosaic X monosomy in mares. If the number of X chromosome copies in a mare, as determined by ddPCR, differs from two (in our study, <1.8 or >2.2), additional cytogenetic investigation is recommended with the aim of detecting the mosaicism.