Chicken and Quail Microsatellite Markers Reveal Polymorphisms in Guinea Fowl

Genetic diversity of indigenous guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) using microsatellite markers in northern Togo

Indigenous guinea fowl is an important animal resource for improving rural household income. In order to provide molecular data for a sustainable management of this poultry resource, an assessment of the genetic diversity and phylogenic relationships was undertaken on seven guinea fowl phenotypes from two agroecological zones (Dry Savannah and Atakora) of Togo. Genotyping was carried out using 18 microsatellite markers on 94 individuals from Dry Savannah (59) and Atakora (35) zones. The results obtained showed a high genetic diversity, with six as an average alleles per locus and an observed heterozygosity of 0.512. However, the F_IS values varied from 0.047 (Lavender) to 0.257 (Albino), reflecting a deficit of heterozygotes, which suggests low to moderate inbreeding levels. The genetic distances between phenotypes are low, ranging from 0.0068 (Bonaparte-Pearl grey) to 0.1559 (Lavender-Albino), unlike the strong genetic identities that reflect a strong genetic similarity between the seven phenotypes of indigenous guinea fowl studied. These results indicate the existence of a single indigenous guinea fowl population, derived from three probable parental populations, with a high within population genetic diversity (phenotypic or agroecological zone). These results could be of use to conservation and improvement programs aiming at the maintenance and sustainable exploitation of this important socio-cultural and economic resource in Togo.

Genetic diversity of domesticated and wild Sudanese guinea fowl (<i>Numida meleagris</i>) based on microsatellite markers

Abstract. Genetic diversity was investigated among four Sudanese domesticated guinea fowl populations collected in different regions of Sudan: the states of Blue Nile (BL), Gezira and Khartoum (G), Kassala and Gedaref (KG), and West and North Kordofan (N). In addition, one wild population from Dinder National Park (D) was included. From 25 microsatellites chosen, 10 were informative and used for the current study. A total of 107 alleles were found with observed heterozygosity between 0.364 and 0.494. The populations kept on farms showed high genetic identity with values between 0.9269 and 0.9601. Neighbor-joining tree analysis and STRUCTURE modeling showed that the wild population clearly differs from the populations kept on farms.