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This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jas.2008-1224v1 87/4/1205    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by d’Angelo, F. Articles by Muscio, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by d’Angelo, F. Articles by Muscio, A.

Genetic variability of the Gentile di Puglia sheep breed based on microsatellite polymorphism

F. d’Angelo^* , M. Albenzio^* , A. Sevi^*, R. Ciampolini, F. Cecchi , E. Ciani and A. Muscio^*

^* Department of Production Sciences, Engineering, and Economics for Agricultural Systems (PrIME), University of Foggia, 71100 Foggia, Italy , Department of Animal Productions, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy Department of General and Environmental Physiology, University of Bari, 70100 Bari, Italy

f.dangelo{at}unifg.it

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to estimate the genetic variability of the Gentile di Puglia sheep breed using microsatellite markers, in order to provide information useful for conservation. DNA of 82 animals, belonging to 6 different farms, was analyzed at 19 microsatellite loci. Number of alleles, allele frequencies, deviations from Hardy-Weinberg proportions, linkage disequilibrium among loci, genetic similarity, genetic distances, and molecular coancestry-based parameters were calculated. Seventeen out of 19 microsatellites showed heterozygote deficiency in the whole population, although only 4 (OarAE129, ILSTS28, ILSTS5, MAF33) showed significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg proportions (P < 0.01). The genetic similarity (an index of allele sharing among individuals) within the whole population was low (0.318), and the average number of alleles per locus was quite high (9.68). The results obtained highlighted a population presenting both deficiency of heterozygotes and high genetic variability. These results suggest that stratification of the breed in sub-populations, probably derived from different farm management in each herd, led to a population characterized by high genetic diversity among different herds and by high similarity within each herd. Moreover, Gentile di Puglia sheep have undergone in the past a strong numeric decline, involving genetic drift effects and high levels of consanguinity within the breed.

Key Words: genetic variability • Gentile di Puglia sheep breed • microsatellite markers