Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to estimate frequencies and diversity of MHC haplotypes in primary breeding lines of commercial turkeys. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was used to assay MHC Class II haplotypes of blood samples from 11 primary breeding lines (comprised of both sire and dam lines) contributed by three major turkey breeding companies. Twenty-five blood samples obtained from wild turkeys were included for comparison. Seven haplotypes previously identified in experimental turkey lines were detected in the commercial lines. One haplotype, A, was predominant in all commercial lines with an average frequency of 76% and in the wild turkeys with a frequency of 46%. Diversity of MHC haplotypes was reduced in the commercial lines compared with the wild turkey. Seven commercial lines had no more than four haplotypes and loci in some lines were close to fixation. Haplotypic frequencies among sire and dam lines differed significantly, but genetic diversity was not different. Only Haplotype D was significantly more frequent in sire than in dam lines. The present data demonstrate that genetic diversity at MHC loci was low in commercial turkey lines.
Published Version
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