Abstract
Electrophoresis (horizontal starch gel and PAGE) was used to study the genetic diversity and uniqueness of an endemic southern African domestic dog (Africanis) breed. The results were compared to those of three other populations/breeds: blood samples obtained from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA); indigenous Middle Eastern dog breed (the Saluqis) and hybrid (mongrel) dogs from the Jericho-area, near Brits (South Africa). Gene and phenotypic allele frequency and genetic differentiation were analysed at 21 protein coding loci. Nine polymorphic loci were identified (AK-1, -2, CK, PER, Hb, PA-1 to -3 and P-Tf). The average heterozygosity ranged from 0.106 to 0.159; the percentage of polymorphic loci were the least in the Saluqi (23.81%) and ranged to 33.33% in the Jericho breed; and the mean number of alleles per locus varied from 1.33 (Saluqi) to 1.43 (Jericho). Significant deviations (P<0.05) of allele frequencies from expected Hardy-Weinberg proportions occurred in loci AK-1, -2, Hb and P-Tf. These loci can serve as markers to define groups (i.e. only Africanis showed the presence of private alleles, CK*B and PA-2*C). The genetic distance values (D78) were between 0.001 and 0.026, with the smallest distance between Africanis and Saluqi, and the largest distance between Jericho and Africanis. This former, small D-value indicates a close genetic relationship between Africanis and Saluqis, supporting archaeological evidence that the endemic Africanis breed has indeed been introduced from the Middle East thousands of years ago, and not through western influences. These results are discussed with specific reference to genetic variation and differentiation that makes the endemic southern African domestic dog breed unique.
Prof. F.H. Van der Bank