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Genes2021; 12(2); 155; doi: 10.3390/genes12020155

Genetic Diversities and Historical Dynamics of Native Ethiopian Horse Populations (Equus caballus) Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms.

Abstract: Matrilineal genetic diversity and relationship were investigated among eight morphologically identified native Ethiopian horse populations using polymorphisms in 46 mtDNA D-loop sequences (454 base pairs). The horse populations identified were Abyssinian, Bale, Borana, Horro, Kafa, Kundido feral horses, Ogaden and Selale. Mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequences were characterized by 15 variable sites that defined five different haplotypes. All genetic diversity estimates, including Reynolds' linearized genetic distance, genetic differentiation () and nucleotide sequence divergence (), revealed a low genetic differentiation in native Ethiopian horse populations. However, Kundido feral and Borana domestic horses were slightly diverged from the rest of the Ethiopian horse populations. We also tried to shed some light on the matrilineal genetic root of native Ethiopian horses from a network constructed by combining newly generated haplotypes and reference haplotypes deposited in the GenBank for Eurasian type Turkish Anatolian horses that were used as a genetic conduit between Eurasian and African horse populations. Ninety-two haplotypes were generated from the combined Ethio-Eurasian mtDNA D-loop sequences. A network reconstructed from the combined haplotypes using Median-Joining algorithm showed that haplotypes generated from native Ethiopian horses formed separate clusters. The present result encourages further investigation of the genetic origin of native African horses by retrieving additional mtDNA sequences deposited in the GenBank for African and Eurasian type horses.
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Publication Date: 2021-01-25 PubMed ID: 33503948PubMed Central: PMC7912211DOI: 10.3390/genes12020155Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research aimed to explore the genetic diversity and relationships among eight native Ethiopian horse populations using variations found in mitochondrial DNA sequences. It found a low level of genetic differentiation among these horse populations, but highlighted the Kundido feral and Borana domestic horses as slightly diverged from the rest. The research also attempted to trace the maternal genetic origin of native Ethiopian horses via their relation to Turkish Anatolian horses, a Eurasian breed.

Research Methodology

  • The study considered eight morphologically identified native Ethiopian horse populations: Abyssinian, Bale, Borana, Horro, Kafa, Kundido feral horses, Ogaden, and Selale.
  • 46 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop sequences that are 454 base pairs long were studied. These sequences are characterized by 15 varying sites that define five different haplotypes.
  • Various genetic diversity estimates were used, including Reynolds’ linearized genetic distance, genetic differentiation and nucleotide sequence divergence.

Key Findings

  • The research found a low genetic differentiation among the Ethiopian horse populations, indicating a quite homogeneous genetic history.
  • However, Kundido feral and Borana domestic horses were found to be slightly genetically diverged from the other Ethiopian horse populations, showing some level of unique ancestry in these populations.
  • By creating a network combining newly found haplotypes and reference haplotypes from Turkish Anatolian horses, the study also attempted to trace the matrilineal genetic origins of the Ethiopian horses. Turkish Anatolian horses were chosen for this part of the study because they historically served as a genetic bridge between Eurasian and African horse populations.
  • When combined, the Ethio-Eurasian mtDNA D-loop sequences produced 92 haplotypes. A network rebuilt from these combined haplotypes showed that the newly discovered haplotypes from native Ethiopian horses formed distinct clusters, suggesting a unique ancestral line separate from Turkish Anatolian horses.

Future Research Direction

  • The outcome of the study encourages further exploration of the genetic origin of native African horses. This could be achieved by retrieving additional mtDNA sequences of relevant horse types available in the GenBank, which is a genetic sequence database, and comparing them with those of native Ethiopian horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Effa K, Rosenbom S, Han J, Dessie T, Beja-Pereira A. (2021). Genetic Diversities and Historical Dynamics of Native Ethiopian Horse Populations (Equus caballus) Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms. Genes (Basel), 12(2), 155. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12020155

Publication

Genes
ISSN: 2073-4425
NlmUniqueID: 101551097
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
PII: 155

Researcher Affiliations

Effa, Kefena
  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 2003, Ethiopia.
Rosenbom, Sonia
  • Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), University of Porto, 4485-661 Vairao, Portugal.
Han, Jianlin
  • CAAS-ILRI Joint Laboratory on Livestock and Forage Genetic Resources (JLLFGR), Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China.
  • International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia.
Dessie, Tadelle
  • International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia.
Beja-Pereira, Albano
  • Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), University of Porto, 4485-661 Vairao, Portugal.
  • DGAOT, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • Ethiopia
  • Female
  • Genetic Linkage
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genetics, Population
  • Haplotypes
  • Horses / classification
  • Horses / genetics
  • Male
  • Phylogeny
  • Phylogeography
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Agbani A, Aminou O, Machmoum M, Germot A, Badaoui B, Petit D, Piro M. A Systematic Literature Review of Mitochondrial DNA Analysis for Horse Genetic Diversity. Animals (Basel) 2025 Mar 20;15(6).
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  3. Guyo M, Tareke M, Tonamo A, Bediye D, Defar G. Evaluations of Morphometric Traits and Body Conformation Indices of Horse Ecotypes Reared in the Highlands of Bale Eco-Region, Ethiopia. Vet Med Sci 2024 Nov;10(6):e70114.
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  4. Mustefa A, Engdawork A, Sinke S. Assessment of horse breeding and husbandry practices in southwest Ethiopia: Its implication to design breeding program. Heliyon 2024 Oct 30;10(20):e39280.
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  5. Guyo M, Tareke M, Tonamo A, Bediye D, Defar G. Multivariate analysis of morphometric traits of the horse ecotypes reared in highlands of Bale Zone, Ethiopia. Vet Anim Sci 2024 Sep;25:100391.
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