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Kunita F, Udagawa C, Inagaki T, Suzuki H, Bonkobara M, Omi T. Population genetics for 18 short tandem repeat loci (Canine Genotypes TM Panel 2.1 Kit) of 150 unrelated dogs from three pure-bred groups in Japan. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2024; 70:102472. [PMID: 38908212 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Similar to that in Europe and the United States, the need for forensic DNA identification in dogs is increasing in Japan. As few studies have used commercial genotyping kits, the effectiveness of the Canine GenotypesTM Panel 2.1 Kit for individual DNA identification in dogs bred in Japan was examined. We genotyped 150 unrelated dogs (50 Golden Retrievers, 50 Miniature Dachshunds, and 50 Shiba Inu) at 18 canine short tandem repeat loci by the Kit. The allele frequency, expected heterozygosity, observed heterozygosity, p-value, power of the discriminant, and of exclusion, polymorphic information content, and random matching probability were calculated for each marker. The random matching probability was subsequently estimated to be 4.394×10-22 in the 150 dogs of the three pure-bred groups based on 18 STR loci; 3.257 × 10-16 in the Golden Retriever, 3.933 × 10-18 in the Miniature Dachshund, and 2.107 × 10-18 in the Shiba Inu breeds. In addition, principal component analysis based on genotype data revealed the Golden Retrievers, Miniature Dachshunds, and Shiba Inus separated into three clusters. The results of the genotype analysis showed that the Canine GenotypesTM Panel 2.1 Kit could be useful for identity testing and tool of population study of canines in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fubuki Kunita
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Department of Basic Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-Shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Chihiro Udagawa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Department of Basic Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-Shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Takeshi Inagaki
- Department of Legal Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotuske-shi, Tochgi-ken 329-0498, Japan
| | - Hideto Suzuki
- Department of Legal Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotuske-shi, Tochgi-ken 329-0498, Japan
| | - Makoto Bonkobara
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan; Research Center for Animal Life Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-Shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Toshinori Omi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Department of Basic Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-Shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan; Department of Legal Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotuske-shi, Tochgi-ken 329-0498, Japan; Research Center for Animal Life Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-Shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan.
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Thomsen M, Künstner A, Wohlers I, Olbrich M, Lenfers T, Osumi T, Shimazaki Y, Nishifuji K, Ibrahim SM, Watson A, Busch H, Hirose M. A comprehensive analysis of gut and skin microbiota in canine atopic dermatitis in Shiba Inu dogs. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:232. [PMID: 37864204 PMCID: PMC10590023 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01671-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Like its human counterpart, canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a chronic relapsing condition; thus, most cAD-affected dogs will require lifelong treatment to maintain an acceptable quality of life. A potential intervention is modulation of the composition of gut microbiota, and in fact, probiotic treatment has been proposed and tried in human atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Since dogs are currently receiving intensive medical care, this will be the same option for dogs, while evidence of gut dysbiosis in cAD is still missing, although skin microbial profiling in cAD has been conducted in several studies. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of both gut and skin microbiota in cAD in one specific cAD-predisposed breed, Shiba Inu. Additionally, we evaluated the impact of commonly used medical management on cAD (Janus kinase; JAK inhibitor, oclacitinib) on the gut and skin microbiota. Furthermore, we genotyped the Shiba Inu dogs according to the mitochondrial DNA haplogroup and assessed its association with the composition of the gut microbiota. RESULTS Staphylococcus was the most predominant bacterial genus observed in the skin; Escherichia/Shigella and Clostridium sensu stricto were highly abundant in the gut of cAD-affected dogs. In the gut microbiota, Fusobacteria and Megamonas were highly abundant in healthy dogs but significantly reduced in cAD-affected dogs. The abundance of these bacterial taxa was positively correlated with the effect of the treatment and state of the disease. Oclacitinib treatment on cAD-affected dogs shifted the composition of microbiota towards that in healthy dogs, and the latter brought it much closer to healthy microbiota, particularly in the gut. Additionally, even within the same dog breed, the mtDNA haplogroup varied, and there was an association between the mtDNA haplogroup and microbial composition in the gut and skin. CONCLUSIONS Dysbiosis of both the skin and the gut was observed in cAD in Shiba Inu dogs. Our findings provide a basis for the potential treatment of cAD by manipulating the gut microbiota as well as the skin microbiota. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirja Thomsen
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Axel Künstner
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Inken Wohlers
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Biomolecular Data Science in Pneumology, Research Center Borstel, Parkallee 1-40, 23845, Borstel, Germany
| | - Michael Olbrich
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Tim Lenfers
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Takafumi Osumi
- Animal Medical Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Yotaro Shimazaki
- Animal Medical Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Koji Nishifuji
- Division of Animal Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Saleh M Ibrahim
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- College of Medical and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Adrian Watson
- Royal Canin SAS, 650 avenue de la Petite Camargue, 30470, Aimargues, France
| | - Hauke Busch
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Misa Hirose
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany.
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Kowal K, Tkaczyk-Wlizło A, Jusiak M, Grzybowska-Szatkowska L, Ślaska B. Canis MitoSNP database: a functional tool useful for comparative analyses of human and canine mitochondrial genomes. J Appl Genet 2023; 64:515-520. [PMID: 37351774 PMCID: PMC10457218 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-023-00764-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Canis MitoSNP is a tool allowing assignment of each mitochondrial genomic position a corresponding position in the mitochondrial gene and in the structure of tRNA, rRNA, and protein. The main aim of this bioinformatic tool was to use data from other bioinformatic tools (TMHMM, SOPMA, tRNA-SCAN, RNAfold, ConSurf) for dog and human mitochondrial genes in order to shorten the time necessary for the analysis of the whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) as well as amino acid and protein analyses. Each position in the canine mitochondrial genome is assigned a position in genes, in codons, an amino acid position in proteins, or a position in tRNA or rRNA molecules. Therefore, a user analysing changes in the canine and human mitochondrial genome does not need to extract the sequences of individual genes from the mitochondrial genome for analysis and there is no need to rewrite them into amino acid sequences to assess whether the change is synonymous or nonsynonymous. Canis mitoSNP allows the comparison between the human and canine mitochondrial genomes as well. The Clustal W alignment of the dog and human mitochondrial DNA reference sequences for each gene obtained from GenBank (NC_002008.4 dog, NC_012920.1 human) was performed in order to determine which position in the canine mitochondrial genome corresponds to the position in the human mitochondrial genome. This function may be useful for the comparative analyses. The tool is available at: https://canismitosnp.pl .
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Kowal
- Institute of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 St., 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | - Angelika Tkaczyk-Wlizło
- Institute of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 St., 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | - Marcin Jusiak
- Institute of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 St., 20-950, Lublin, Poland
| | | | - Brygida Ślaska
- Institute of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 St., 20-950, Lublin, Poland.
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Thai QK, Nguyen TC, Le CT, Chung AD, Nguyen TML, Tran QD, Savolainen P, Quan QD, Tran DL, Tran HD. HV1 mtDNA Reveals the High Genetic Diversity and the Ancient Origin of Vietnamese Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13061036. [PMID: 36978577 PMCID: PMC10044065 DOI: 10.3390/ani13061036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, samples from 429 dog individuals across three main regions of Vietnam (Southern Vietnam (SVN), Central Vietnam (CVN), and Northern Vietnam (NVN)) were collected to analyze the 582 bp region mtDNA HVI, so as to study the genetic diversity and to screen the rare haplotype E in the Vietnamese village dog population. Nine new haplotypes A, two new haplotypes B, and three haplotypes C were unique to Vietnam dogs, in which the new haplotypes An3, An7, Cn1, and Cn3 concerned mutations at new polymorphism sites (15,517, 15,505, 15,479, and 15,933, respectively) which have not been previously reported. The detection of haplotypes A9 and A29, and the appearance of haplotype A200 in the two individual dogs sampled support that the Southeast Asian dog is the ancestor of today’s Australian dingo and Polynesian dog. The two rare haplotypes E (E1 and E4) were reconfirmed in Vietnamese dogs and discussed. This study also contributes to strengthening the theory of domestication of dogs to the south of the Yangtze River and the Southeast Asian origin of the dingo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Ke Thai
- Faculty of Natural science Education, Saigon University, 273 An Duong Vuong, Ward 3, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City 72710, Vietnam
- Correspondence: (Q.K.T.); (H.-D.T.); Tel.: +84-918-297-640 (Q.K.T.); +84-772-999-537 (H-D.T.)
| | - Thanh-Cong Nguyen
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Nguyen-Tat-Thanh University, 298A-300A Nguyen-Tat-Thanh Street, District 04, Ho Chi Minh City 72820, Vietnam
| | - Cong-Trieu Le
- Soc Trang Vocational College, 176 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ward 7, Soc Trang City 96114, Vietnam
| | - Anh-Dung Chung
- Biotechnology Division, Institute of Agricultural Sciences for Southern Viet Nam, 121 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Da Kao Ward, 1st District, Ho Chi Minh City 710302, Vietnam
| | - Tran Minh-Ly Nguyen
- Faculty of Business Administration, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Akademiestraße 6, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
| | - Quoc-Dung Tran
- Faculty of Biology, University of Education, Hue University, 34 Le 5Loi Street, Hue City 49118, Vietnam
| | - Peter Savolainen
- Science for Life Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Quoc-Dang Quan
- Agency for Southern Affairs of Ministry of Science and Technology, 31 Han Thuyen Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 70055, Vietnam
| | - Dai-Long Tran
- Department of Supervisor Inspector, Van Lang University, Nguyen Khac Nhu Street, Co Giang Ward, Distric 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
| | - Hoang-Dung Tran
- Faculty of Biology and Environment, Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry, 140 Le Trong Tan Street, Tay Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City 72009, Vietnam
- Institute of Applied Research and Technology Transfer HUFI, Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry, 140 Le Trong Tan Street, Tay Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City 72009, Vietnam
- Correspondence: (Q.K.T.); (H.-D.T.); Tel.: +84-918-297-640 (Q.K.T.); +84-772-999-537 (H-D.T.)
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Perini F, Cardinali I, Ceccobelli S, Gruppetta A, José CS, Cosenza M, Musso N, Martìnez A, Abushady AM, Monteagudo LV, Liotta L, Lancioni H, Attard G, Lasagna E. Phylogeographic and population genetic structure of hound-like native dogs of the Mediterranean Basin. Res Vet Sci 2023; 155:103-114. [PMID: 36669378 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The dog was probably the first domesticated animal. Despite extensive archaeological and genetic investigations, the origin and the evolution of the extant dogs are still being debated. Dog breeds that have over time been selected for hunting share common ancestral traits. This study represents the first comprehensive attempt to survey at the genomic and mitochondrial level eight hound-like dogs breeds indigenous to the Mediterranean Basin to determine if they share common ancient origins. Results from the microsatellite analysis indicate that all the dog populations have a low inbreeding value.The Kelb tal-Fenek has a high divergence from the current Egyptian street population, however there is not enough evidence from this study to exclude completely the potential of an ancient common relationship. Overall, the mitochondrial results indicate high frequencies of haplogroups A and B and a low representation of haplogroup C, while only one Egyptian dog could be assigned to haplogroup D. Results reveal identities and shared clades, suggesting the conservation of ancient European mitotypes in the Mediterranean hound-like breeds, especially in the Egyptian population. Although none of the dog populations/breeds participating in this study indicate to be direct descendants of the Egyptian dogs, they still have a very close morphologically resemblance to those iconic Egyptian dogs often depicted in ancient art forms and share some genetic links with the current Egyptian population. Further research is required with other markers such us complete mitogenomes and SNP panels to confirm the complex history of the Mediterranean dogs involved in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Perini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Irene Cardinali
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, via Elce di Sotto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Simone Ceccobelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche 10, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
| | - Anthony Gruppetta
- St. Simon Veterinary Practice, 53, Grognet Street MST 3611, Mosta, Northern Region, Malta
| | - Carlos San José
- Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Paseo Dr. Begiristain, s/n, 20014 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Mario Cosenza
- Laboratorio di Genetica Forense Veterinaria, Unirelab srl, Milan, Settimo Milanese, Italy
| | - Nicolò Musso
- Molecular Analysis and Biology Laboratory Biogene, Via Giacomo Leopardi 50, 95127 Catania, Italy
| | - Amparo Martìnez
- Department of Genetics, University of Córdoba, Ctra. Madrid-Córdoba km 396, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Asmaa M Abushady
- Biotechnology School, Nile University, first 6th of October, Giza Governorate, Egypt; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shubra Al Kheimah, Awal Shubra Al Kheimah, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Luis V Monteagudo
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Calle de Pedro Cerbuna, 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Agrifood Institute of Aragon (IA2), University of Zaragoza-CITA, Calle de Pedro Cerbuna, 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Luigi Liotta
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Hovirag Lancioni
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, via Elce di Sotto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - George Attard
- Department of Rural Sciences and Food Systems, University of Malta, 2080 Msida, Malta
| | - Emiliano Lasagna
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
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Roccaro M, Bini C, Fais P, Merialdi G, Pelotti S, Peli A. Who killed my dog? Use of forensic genetics to investigate an enigmatic case. Int J Legal Med 2020; 135:387-392. [PMID: 32783156 PMCID: PMC7870635 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-020-02388-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Genetic testing of animal biological material has become a valuable tool in forensic investigations, and it is successfully used to identify unknown crime perpetrators, to unmask food frauds, or to clarify cases of animal attacks on humans or other animals. When DNA profiling is not possible due to inadequate amounts of nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing is the only viable alternative, as in the case of shed hair samples. In this case, a dog was allegedly killed by wild animals while being hosted in a boarding house. Extraneous hair fragments recovered from the dog’s mouth and paws were subjected to genetic analysis: the cytochrome b gene located on mtDNA was amplified and sequenced in order to determine the species responsible for the killing. The mtDNA analysis provided evidence that the dog was killed by other dogs, thus unmasking a false wild animal attack and putting the case in an entirely different perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Roccaro
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.
| | - Carla Bini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Fais
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Merialdi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna "Bruno Ubertini", Bologna Unit, Bologna, Italy
| | - Susi Pelotti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Angelo Peli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
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7
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Ciucani MM, Palumbo D, Galaverni M, Serventi P, Fabbri E, Ravegnini G, Angelini S, Maini E, Persico D, Caniglia R, Cilli E. Old wild wolves: ancient DNA survey unveils population dynamics in Late Pleistocene and Holocene Italian remains. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6424. [PMID: 30944772 PMCID: PMC6441319 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The contemporary Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus) represents a case of morphological and genetic uniqueness. Today, Italian wolves are also the only documented population to fall exclusively within the mitochondrial haplogroup 2, which was the most diffused across Eurasian and North American wolves during the Late Pleistocene. However, the dynamics leading to such distinctiveness are still debated. Methods In order to shed light on the ancient genetic variability of this wolf population and on the origin of its current diversity, we collected 19 Late Pleistocene-Holocene samples from northern Italy, which we analyzed at a short portion of the hypervariable region 1 of the mitochondrial DNA, highly informative for wolf and dog phylogenetic analyses. Results Four out of the six detected haplotypes matched the ones found in ancient wolves from northern Europe and Beringia, or in modern European and Chinese wolves, and appeared closely related to the two haplotypes currently found in Italian wolves. The haplotype of two Late Pleistocene samples matched with primitive and contemporary dog sequences from the canine mitochondrial clade A. All these haplotypes belonged to haplogroup 2. The only exception was a Holocene sample dated 3,250 years ago, affiliated to haplogroup 1. Discussion In this study we describe the genetic variability of the most ancient wolf specimens from Italy analyzed so far, providing a preliminary overview of the genetic make-up of the population that inhabited this area from the last glacial maximum to the Middle Age period. Our results endorsed that the genetic diversity carried by the Pleistocene wolves here analyzed showed a strong continuity with other northern Eurasian wolf specimens from the same chronological period. Contrarily, the Holocene samples showed a greater similarity only with modern sequences from Europe and Asia, and the occurrence of an haplogroup 1 haplotype allowed to date back previous finding about its presence in this area. Moreover, the unexpected discovery of a 24,700-year-old sample carrying a haplotype that, from the fragment here obtained, falls within the canine clade A, could represent the oldest evidence in Europe of such dog-rich clade. All these findings suggest complex population dynamics that deserve to be further investigated based on mitochondrial or whole genome sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Maria Ciucani
- Laboratories of Physical Anthropology and Ancient DNA, Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.,Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Davide Palumbo
- Ente di Gestione per i Parchi e la Biodiversità Emilia Orientale, Monteveglio, Italy
| | - Marco Galaverni
- Conservation Unit, WWF Italia, Rome, Italy.,Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO-CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Serventi
- Laboratories of Physical Anthropology and Ancient DNA, Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.,Department of Biological, Geological & Environmental Sciences-BiGeA, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Fabbri
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO-CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gloria Ravegnini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sabrina Angelini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Maini
- ArcheoLaBio-Research Centre for Bioarchaeology, Department of History and Culture, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Davide Persico
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Romolo Caniglia
- Unit for Conservation Genetics (BIO-CGE), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Cilli
- Laboratories of Physical Anthropology and Ancient DNA, Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
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