Microsatellite markers for identification and parentage analysis in the European wild boar (Sus scrofa)

Vânia Costa,Gyula Varga,József Buzgó,Attila Zsolnai,Juan Carranza,Pedro Santos,Pedro Fernández-Llario,István Anton,Nuno Monteiro,Albano Beja-Pereira,Javier Pérez-González

doi:10.1186/1756-0500-5-479

Abstract

BackgroundThe wild boar (Sus scrofa) is among the most widespread mammal species throughout the old world. Presently, studies concerning microsatellites in domestic pigs and wild boars have been carried out in order to investigate domestication, social behavior and general diversity patterns among either populations or breeds. The purpose of the current study is to develop a robust set of microsatellites markers for parentage analyses and individual identification.FindingsA set of 14 previously reported microsatellites markers have been optimized and tested in three populations from Hungary, Portugal and Spain, in a total of 167 samples. The results indicate high probabilities of exclusion (0.99999), low probability of identity (2.0E-13 – 2.5E-9) and a parentage assignment of 100%.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that this set of markers is a useful and efficient tool for the individual identification and parentage assignment in wild boars.

Highlights

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is among the most widespread mammal species throughout the old world
Our results demonstrate that this set of markers is a useful and efficient tool for the individual identification and parentage assignment in wild boars
Our results support the usefulness of the described set of microsatellites as a valuable tool for parentage analysis in the wild boar, as the individual identification and power of exclusion levels reveal high power and accuracy (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is among the most widespread mammal species throughout the old world. Studies concerning microsatellites in domestic pigs and wild boars have been carried out in order to investigate domestication, social behavior and general diversity patterns among either populations or breeds. The wild boar, Sus scrofa, is currently one of the most widespread wild mammal species, inhabiting an extensive range of environments [1]. Its domestic form, the pig, is of economic importance, and the present day varieties are the result of multiple domestication events that occurred in different regions [2]. We believe that the development and validation of such a panel of markers will provide a valuable tool to assess parental and kinship relationships, allowing considerable improvement for studies of mating behavior of both domestic and wild pigs

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