Comparison of mtDNA control region among descendant breeds of the extinct Zaupel sheep revealed haplogroup C and D in Central Europe

• Published in: Veterinary medicine and science 2021-11, Vol.7 (6), p.2330-2338
• Main Authors: Gáspárdy, András, Berger, Beate, Zabavnik‐Piano, Jelka, Kovács, Endre, Annus, Kata, Zenke, Petra, Sáfár, László, Maróti‐Agóts, Ákos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; breed preservation; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; Europe; Extinction; founder sampling; Gene flow; Genetic drift; Genetic Variation; haplotype diversity; Haplotypes; maternal lineages; Mitochondrial DNA; Nucleotide sequence; Original; Phylogeny; Population studies; Sheep; Sheep - genetics; Software; Zaupel sheep
• ISSN: 2053-1095; 2053-1095
• DOI: 10.1002/vms3.585

The consideration of the descendance is indispensable in the preservation of endangered animal breeds. The authors compared mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequence in three descendant breeds of the extinct Zaupel sheep, firstly. Their investigation was carried out in order to prove the common origin of Waldschaf (Austria), Bovec sheep (Slovenia) and Cikta (Hungary). A total of 118 biological samples were taken from non‐related representatives of the three breeds between 2015 and 2017. A newly designed primer pair was also used to amplify the segment (1180 bp) to be tested. The total number of haplotypes in the whole study population was 49. The majority of which fell into haplogroup B. The significant negative value of the Fu's Fs statistic (Fs statistic = −3.296, p = 0.013) based on haplotype frequencies demonstrated a moderate foreign gene flow. As a novel observation haplogroups C and D appeared in Cikta and Bovec sheep, respectively. The Tajima D‐test value in the entire study population was −0.914 (p > 0.10), meaning that the separation of the three descendant breeds did not cause genetic drift, these are collectively in genetic equilibrium. The genetic information confirmed the common origin of the breeds known from the breed history. This manuscript deals with significant questions of the common root of Zaupel sheep's descendant breeds and investigates these breeds based on mtDNA control region using a novel approach called founder sampling method. Genetic information confirmed the origin of the breeds known from the breed history separation of the three descendant breeds did not cause genetic drift, these are collectively in genetic equilibrium. At the same time, pedigree analysis that determines sampling leads to a more realistic diversity of results.