Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Genomic Divergence from Its Ancestors Canis lupus, German Shepherd Dog, and Different Sheepdogs of European Origin.

Daniela Čílová,Jakub Vašek,Hana Vostrá-Vydrová,Nina Moravčíková,Radovan Kasarda,Luboš Vostrý,Radoslav Židek

doi:10.3390/genes12060832

Daniela Čílová, Jakub Vašek + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12060832

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Abstract

This study focused on the genomic differences between the Czechoslovakian wolfdog (CWD) and its ancestors, the Grey wolf (GW) and German Shepherd dog. The Saarloos wolfdog and Belgian Shepherd dog were also included to study the level of GW genetics retained in the genome of domesticated breeds. The dataset consisted of 131 animals and 143,593 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The effects of demographic history on the overall genome structure were determined by screening the distribution of the homozygous segments. The genetic variance distributed within and between groups was quantified by genetic distances, the FST index, and discriminant analysis of principal components. Fine-scale population stratification due to specific morphological and behavioural traits was assessed by principal component and factorial analyses. In the CWD, a demographic history effect was manifested mainly in a high genome-wide proportion of short homozygous segments corresponding to a historical load of inbreeding derived from founders. The observed proportion of long homozygous segments indicated that the inbreeding events shaped the CWD genome relatively recently compared to other groups. Even if there was a significant increase in genetic similarity among wolf-like breeds, they were genetically separated from each other. Moreover, this study showed that the CWD genome carries private alleles that are not found in either wolves or other dog breeds analysed in this study.

Highlights

IntroductionEven if six dog breeds are generally recognised as the product of grey wolves crossing with domestic dogs, only the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (CWD) and Saarloos Wolfdog (SWD) are accepted by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) as wolf hybrid breeds
single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) data, it is possible to express the frequency and length of homozygous segments arising as a consequence of selection pressure on particular genomic regions, mainly controlling favourable phenotypic traits [45]
The results point to the need for a fine-scale analysis of their genomes to identify the source of the observed differences and, where appropriate, to identify breed-specific patterns inherited as part of the certain traits defined in the standards and goals of each breed

Summary

Introduction

Even if six dog breeds are generally recognised as the product of grey wolves crossing with domestic dogs, only the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (CWD) and Saarloos Wolfdog (SWD) are accepted by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) as wolf hybrid breeds. They were created at independent times from the crossing of the German Shepherd dog (GSD) with grey wolves. These breeds belong to the FCI Group 1, which contains sheepdogs and cattle dogs (except Swiss cattle dogs), including the Belgian Shepherd dog (BSD). The BSD is distantly related to the CWD, SWD, and GSD, it has been bred for similar functional purposes

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