Abstract: Previous studies investigating donkey parentage and genetic diversity used horse-specific multiplex systems. However, several mis-allele and null-allele issues were found with some of the horse primers when used in donkeys. In 2017, the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) recommended 13 dinucleotide short tandem repeats (STRs) (AHT4, ASB23, HMS2, HMS3, HMS6, HMS7, HMS18, HTG7, HTG10, TKY297, TKY312, TKY337 and TKY343) as a core panel that should be used to identify individuals and to test for parentage in donkeys. To date, no single multiplex STR typing system containing all 13 donkey STRs recommended by the ISAG has been reported. Objective: To establish a novel and donkey-specific multiplex STR typing system containing all 13 recommended STRs. Methods: Assay development and validation in field population. Methods: Primers for seven of the STRs were redesigned and conditions for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were optimised. We analysed the allele sequences, sensitivity, species-specificity and stutter ratios of this new system. Results: A 13-plex STR typing system for donkey was established. A full profile could be generated from a single PCR reaction using as little as 5 ng of DNA template with the 13 pairs of primers labelled with fluorescent dyes. An allele ladder, containing 101 alleles from the 13 STRs, was generated. No full genotype profile was generated with these primers if DNA from humans, or 11 other commonly encountered animals, was used. Genotypes could be generated for the horse and horse-donkey hybrids (mule and hinny). Stutter ratios and population genetic parameters were calculated based on samples from 150 donkeys. The combined probabilities of paternity exclusion for this system were 0.988907326 (CPEduo) and 0.999665018 (CPEtrio). Conclusions: This system cannot detect sex. Conclusions: Our results indicate that our donkey-specific 13-plex STR typing system is sensitive, species-specific and robust for individual identification, paternity testing and population genetic analysis in donkeys, and has potential forensic applications.
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The research paper presents a novel 13-plex short tandem repeats (STR) typing system designed to improve the identification and parentage testing process in donkeys, achieving a high probability of paternity exclusion.
Objective and Need for the Research
The research aimed to introduce a novel donkey-specific 13-plex STR typing system targeting more accurate identification and parentage testing.
The need for this research originated from the issues related to the use of horse-specific multiplex systems in donkeys, including the occurrence of mis-allele and null-allele problems encountered with some horse primers.
Methods Used
In developing and validating the proposed 13-plex STR typing system, the research team optimised polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conditions.
They performed a detailed analysis of allele sequences, sensitivity and species-specificity, and calculated stutter ratios of the new system on DNA samples of 150 donkeys.
Primers labelled with fluorescent dyes were used in a single PCR reaction with as minimal as 5 ng of DNA template to obtain a full profile.
Results and Findings
The research successfully established a 13-plex STR typing system specifically for the identification and parentage testing of donkeys.
In the case of DNA derived from humans or any of 11 other commonly encountered animals, their primers did not generate a full genotype profile. Horse DNA and horse-donkey hybrid DNA (from mules and hinnies) were exceptions, showing resultant genotypes.
They were able to generate a ladder of 101 alleles from the 13 STRs and calculated the combined probabilities of paternity exclusion as 0.988907326 (CPEduo) and 0.999665018 (CPEtrio).
Conclusion
The novel 13-plex STR system for donkeys does not have the ability to detect sex.
The results indicate the system as a sensitive, robust, and species-specific method for individual identification, paternity testing, and genetic population analysis in donkeys. Moreover, there is potential for forensic applications.
Cite This Article
APA
Dang W, Shang S, Zhang X, Yu Y, Irwin DM, Wang Z, Zhang S.
(2019).
A novel 13-plex STR typing system for individual identification and parentage testing of donkeys (Equus asinus).
Equine Vet J, 52(2), 290-297.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13158
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