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Home / Equine Research Bank / PeerJ / Mitochondrial DNA variation in the Italian Heavy Draught Hor...
PeerJ2020; 8; e8996; doi: 10.7717/peerj.8996

Mitochondrial DNA variation in the Italian Heavy Draught Horse.

Abstract: In the last decades, Italy as well as other developed countries have registered a decrease in the population size of many local horse breeds. The continuous crossbreeding has determined the dilution of genetic heritage of several native breeds. The Italian Heavy Draught Horse (IHD) is the only autochthonous Italian coldblooded horse among these breeds; therefore, it represents a resource to be preserved. In 1927, the first generation of this breed was officially created by crossing different Heavy Draught horses with local mares and recorded in a Studbook. Methods: To provide the first comprehensive overview of the genetic diversity of Italian Heavy Draught horses from Central Italy, we produced and phylogenetically analysed 52 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control-region sequences. Furthermore, we evaluated data available from GenBank ( = 568) to have a more complete scenario and to understand the relationships with other European Heavy Draught horse breeds. Results: Among the IHD samples that were analysed, we identified ten of the 17 haplogroups described in modern horses. Most of these sequences fell into L, G, and M lineages, thus showing the overall mtDNA legacy of the ancestral mares that were probably used at the initial stages of breeding selections a long time ago. The high mitochondrial haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.969) found in our samples reflected the multiple maternal origins of the horses. Our results highlighted a considerable percentage of haplotypes shared especially with Bardigiano and Hungarian Heavy Draught breeds. Furthermore, both the presence of four unique haplotypes detected in our samples and their absence among all equine mitochondrial published data demonstrate a mitochondrial peculiarity that needs to be further investigated and preserved with careful breeding practices.
©2020 Lancioni et al.
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Publication Date: 2020-05-15 PubMed ID: 32461825PubMed Central: PMC7233276DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8996Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article delves into preserving the genetic diversity of the Italian Heavy Draught Horse (IHD) breed, through a comprehensive analysis of mitochondrial DNA samples from Central Italy and comparison with other heavy draught breeds from GenBank data.

Study Background

  • Italy, along with other developed countries, has seen a decrease in many local horse breeds. This reduction is primarily due to constant crossbreeding, which dilutes the genetic heritage of native breeds. The IHD is unique since it is the only indigenous Italian coldblooded horse breed.
  • The IHD breed was first officially recognised in 1927, created by crossbreeding various heavy draught horses with local mares and documented in a studbook.

Methodology of the Study

  • The researchers aimed to provide an in-depth look at the genetic diversity of IHD from Central Italy. They generated and phylogenetically analysed 52 mitochondrial DNA control-region sequences.
  • To create a fuller picture and understand the relationship of IHD with other European heavy draught horse breeds, the researchers also evaluated data (568 entries) from GenBank, an open-access genetic sequence database.

Results and Findings

  • Among the IHD samples analysed, ten out of the seventeen horse haplogroups described in modern horses were identified. Most sequences were part of the L, G, and M lineages, indicating the mtDNA inheritance from the ancestral mares used in the early stages of selective breeding.
  • A high mitochondrial haplotype diversity was found (Hd = 0.969), suggesting multiple maternal origins for the horses. These findings indicated a significant percentage of haplotypes common with the Bardigiano breed from Italy and the Hungarian Heavy Draught breed.
  • The research also uncovered four unique haplotypes in the IHD samples that were not found in any other published equine mitochondrial data. These unique haplotypes demonstrate a distinct mitochondrial feature of the IHD breed, which the researchers highlight requires further research and preservation through thoughtful breeding practices.

Conclusion

  • The study contributes significantly to the effort to safeguard the genetic diversity of the Italian Heavy Draught Horse breed. It underscores the need for intentional breeding practices that will maintain the unique genetic heritage of the IHD and help prevent further decline in the breed.

Cite This Article

APA
Lancioni H, Cardinali I, Giontella A, Antognoni MT, Miglio A. (2020). Mitochondrial DNA variation in the Italian Heavy Draught Horse. PeerJ, 8, e8996. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8996

Publication

PeerJ
ISSN: 2167-8359
NlmUniqueID: 101603425
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 8
Pages: e8996
PII: e8996

Researcher Affiliations

Lancioni, Hovirag
  • Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Cardinali, Irene
  • Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Giontella, Andrea
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Antognoni, Maria Teresa
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Miglio, Arianna
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare there are no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Giontella A, Cardinali I, Sarti FM, Silvestrelli M, Lancioni H. Y-Chromosome Haplotype Report among Eight Italian Horse Breeds.. Genes (Basel) 2023 Aug 9;14(8).
    doi: 10.3390/genes14081602pubmed: 37628653google scholar: lookup
  2. Cardinali I, Giontella A, Tommasi A, Silvestrelli M, Lancioni H. Unlocking Horse Y Chromosome Diversity.. Genes (Basel) 2022 Dec 2;13(12).
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  3. Myćka G, Klecel W, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Jaworska J, Musiał AD, Ropka-Molik K. Mitochondrial Whole D-Loop Variability in Polish Draft Horses of Sztumski Subtype.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jul 22;12(15).
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  4. Giontella A, Cardinali I, Pieramati C, Cherchi R, Biggio GP, Achilli A, Silvestrelli M, Lancioni H. A Genetic Window on Sardinian Native Horse Breeds through Uniparental Molecular Systems.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Sep 1;10(9).
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