Veterinary/zoology session

All over the world hereditary canine diseases occur more and more frequently, which is caused primarily and obviously by inbreeding. This is why people demand more frequently the genetic examination of a population, the mapping of diversity and determination of the origin of the dog populations. In our study the usability of three hyperpolymorphic microsatellite markers – ZUBECA4, WILMS-TF and FH2132 – were examined in Hungarian hound dogs.

For our examination buccal swabs were used from 45 purebred hound dogs, belonging to six different varieties. In this mixed group three subgroups were segregated, the group of the Hungarian Vizslas, Transylvanian Hounds and the other hound dogs. After having extracted the DNA of the samples the loci ZUBECA4, WILMS-TF and FH2132 were amplified with a multiplex PCR reaction, separated with capillary electrophoresis and their size was determined. The structures of the reference alleles were determined with the sequencing of homozygote alleles. Our nomenclature for allele calling based on repetition structures is suitable for international comparison.

The population statistical analysis (Hobs, Hexp, PE, PD, PIC) of the groups with the allele frequency data was carried out and the degree of inbreeding in the variety populations was estimated. The groups were tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and linkage equilibrium and thereafter the comparative genetic analysis of the three subgroups was carried out by F-statistics.

On the basis of the total statistical results the three examined STR markers proved to be very polymorphic in the total hound dog population. Therefore these loci can be suitable for breed examining screening tests and individual identification. Its accuracy might be improved by using more other loci. The high inbreeding values of Hungarian Vizslas and Transylvanian hounds call attention to the need of breeder’s careful breeding decisions. As a significant difference between the genetic structures of the three subgroups was proved, our examination supports the quick effect of the directed selection influencing the population molecular genetic structure.