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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Genetic Variability Trend of Lusitano Horse Breed Reared in ...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(1); doi: 10.3390/ani12010098

Genetic Variability Trend of Lusitano Horse Breed Reared in Italy.

Abstract: The Lusitano Horse (LH) originates from Portugal, but is reared worldwide. Since 1994, the University of Milan has routinely tested the LHs bred in Italy for parentage control. This study aims to assess the genetic variability of the LH reared in Italy using 16 microsatellites markers. Moreover, the genetic variability changes over the years in the total population (n.384) and in unrelated horses (n.47) were evaluated. Horses were grouped according to their date of birth (1975-1990, 1991-2000, 2001-2010, 2010-2019). Standard genetic diversity parameters, including observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE; P-Val), allelic richness, and inbreeding coefficient (Fis) were estimated. In the whole period, the total population showed Ho as high as 0.69, low Fis (0.057), and imbalance for HWE. When considering the unrelated horses, Ho was seen to increase over time (from 0.594 in 1975-1990 to 0.68 in 2010-2019) and frequencies were in HWE, again having low and decreasing values of Fis (from 0.208 in 1975-1990 to 0.019 in 2010-2019). Bottleneck analysis excluded a recent population decline. Principal Coordinate Analysis at the individual level defined two clusters, the major cluster including all the most recent horses. An increasing number of dams (156% more from 2001-2010 to 2011-2019) supports the good variability recorded in the population so far. However, the high number of foals (77.2%) sired by only four stallions in recent years suggests caution in the choice of the sires for the future.
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Publication Date: 2022-01-01 PubMed ID: 35011204PubMed Central: PMC8749805DOI: 10.3390/ani12010098Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research paper examines the genetic variability of the Lusitano Horse breed in Italy, using 16 microsatellites markers in tests conducted by the University of Milan since 1994. It observes that genetic diversity has generally increased over time, though it also notes that the large number of offspring from a small number of stallions may present issues for maintaining diversity in the future.

Overview of the Study

  • The study investigates the Lusitano Horse (LH) breed that originates from Portugal but is reared globally, with a specific focus on the breed in Italy. The University of Milan has routinely tested this breed in Italy since 1994 for parentage control.
  • The aim of this research is to assess the genetic variability of the LH in Italy utilizing 16 microsatellite markers, specialized DNA sequences used as genetic markers in studies. Additionally, the study evaluates the changes in genetic variability over the years for the total LH population in Italy as well as in unrelated horses.
  • The horses were grouped according to their birth date into four cohorts: 1975-1990, 1991-2000, 2001-2010, and 2010-2019.

Methodology and Analysis

  • The study employed standard genetic diversity markers including observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), allelic richness, and inbreeding coefficient (F).
  • In the total population and across all years, high Ho (up to 0.69), low F (0.057), and imbalance for HWE were observed. This implies a high level of genetic diversity.
  • For unrelated horses, there was an increase in Ho over time, with frequencies in HWE and low and decreasing inbreeding values.
  • A bottleneck analysis was performed, which is a method to detect a recent decrease in population size. However, this analysis did not reveal any recent population declines.

Findings and Implications

  • A Principal Coordinate Analysis at the individual level identified two major clusters, with the larger one including all the most recent horses, indicating a differentiation of the genetic makeup over time.
  • There was a significant increase in the number of dams (female parents) over the years, supporting the observed genetic variability in the population.
  • Despite the overall positive trends in genetic diversity, the high proportion (77.2%) of foals sired by only four stallions in recent years presents a potential threat to future genetic diversity and suggests caution in stallion selection for breeding.

Cite This Article

APA
Cozzi MC, Valiati P, Longeri M, Ferreira C, Abreu Ferreira S. (2022). Genetic Variability Trend of Lusitano Horse Breed Reared in Italy. Animals (Basel), 12(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12010098

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 1

Researcher Affiliations

Cozzi, Maria Cristina
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università, 6-26900 Lodi, Italy.
Valiati, Paolo
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università, 6-26900 Lodi, Italy.
Longeri, Maria
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università, 6-26900 Lodi, Italy.
Ferreira, Carlos
  • Laboratório de Genética Molecular de Alter, Instituto National de Investigação Agraria e Veterinaria (INIAV, IP), Unidade Estratégica de Investigação e Serviços de Biotecnologia e Recursos Genéticos, Coudelaria de Alter, 7440-152 Alter do Chão, Portugal.
Abreu Ferreira, Sofia
  • Laboratório de Genética Molecular de Alter, Instituto National de Investigação Agraria e Veterinaria (INIAV, IP), Unidade Estratégica de Investigação e Serviços de Biotecnologia e Recursos Genéticos, Coudelaria de Alter, 7440-152 Alter do Chão, Portugal.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Cardinali I, Giontella A, Tommasi A, Silvestrelli M, Lancioni H. Unlocking Horse Y Chromosome Diversity. Genes (Basel) 2022 Dec 2;13(12).
    doi: 10.3390/genes13122272pubmed: 36553539google scholar: lookup
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