Caracterización cariológica de Proechimys sp. (Rodentia: Echimydae) de una colonia experimental

Abstract

The Colombian National Institute of Health (INS) owns an experimental colony of Proechimys sp. which started from native animals from an enzootic focus located in Puerto Boyacá (Dos Quebradas area, Boyacá, Colombia). These animals have been used for viral replication of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus since they are natural reservoirs of the infection. It this paper, we present the cariotype established by QFQ, GTC, CBG and NOR banding using lymphocyte microculture from peripheral blood. The chromosome number thus obtained (2n=32) is share with P. oconnelli (semispinosus group sensu Patton) having just about the same karyotype, and with P. simonsi (= P. hendeei, from the simonsi group sensu Patton) with remarkable differences When we analysed both the geograhical distribution and the karyology, we could think that even though they are very similar from the karyotypic point of view, P. oconnelli is probably not the species from this study The wide range of distribution of P. chrysaeolus could include the original location of this animals with wich the colony was started andy thereforey could be species that they belong to. However, its karyotype is unknown and its comparison become impossible The taxon of the Proechimys of the colony specifically will not be stablished unless the morphological and karyological knowledge is broadened on the species of the genus.