Original scientific paper

Mitochondrial DNA control region as a tool for species identification and distinction between wolves and dogs from Croatia.

Magda Sindičić orcid.org/0000-0002-1391-3648 ; Department for Game Biology, Pathology and Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Tomislav Gomerčić ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Galov ; Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Haidi Arbanasić ; Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Josip Kusak ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Alen Slavica ; Department for Game Biology, Pathology and Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Đuro Huber ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Dogs worldwide share a single genetic origin from Asian wolves. While dog and wolf lineages are difficult to separate in terms of nuclear genes, mitochondrial lineages are clearly distinguishable for the two species, offering a good opportunity to evaluate the differences between them. Species identification from DNA is an important tool for wolf conservation in Croatia, and wolf - dog differentiation is necessary for forensic cases, wildlife management and scientific research. The goal of this paper was to provide a data set on Croatian dog and wolf mitochondrial DNA control region sequences, and to research if these sequences can be used as a reference for species identification. We analyzed 281 base pair sequences of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of 20 mixed breed dog blood samples, 91 grey wolf muscle samples and two muscle samples of wolf-like animals. We identified 12 dog and 4 wolf mtDNA control region haplotypes. None of the haplotypes were shared, confirming that mtDNA control region haplotypes can be used to discriminate between Croatian wolves and dogs, and to confirm the maternal ancestry of putative hybrids. The sequences of the two wolf-like animals clearly grouped into a dog cluster.

Keywords

Canis lupus familiaris; wolf; Canis lupus; mitochondrial DNA; control region

Hrčak ID:

67357

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/67357

Publication date:

26.4.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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