Genetic variability and linkage of selected microsatellite markers in the Chinese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides procyonoides)

Abstract. The aim of the recent study was to analyze the variability and linkage study of selected microsatellite markers of the Chinese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides procyonoides) bred in Poland. In general, 3 generations of animals maintained at the Polish breeding farm, were under observation. For this project, the variability of 20 canine microsatellite loci was examined in the raccoon dog. The number of alleles, frequencies, and the statistics that express polymorphism, the position of markers, the distance between them as well as the linkage analysis among the analyzed loci were determined. Altogether, there were 74 alleles identified. Three of the microsatellites studied displayed a monomorphic allele. The total number of other alleles per locus varied from 2 to 6. An average allele number of polymorphic loci was 4.4 alleles per one locus. An average PIC value was 0.49. The linkage analysis concerned 17 polymorphic markers. Five linkage groups were identified, ranging in size from 36.3 to 120.7 cM. The largest linkage groups contained 5 markers each, and the smallest – 2 markers. The sex-averaged linkage groups comprised 17 markers. The total coverage was 380.3 cM, with intervals between markers ranging from 6.7 to 43.5 cM; the average distance between markers was 31.69 cM. Two of the linkage groups exceeded 100 cM in length. The construction of the genetic map of the Chinese raccoon dog, is the first step to identify the genes with a major effect (quantitative trait loci, QTL), which as a result can be beneficial in breeding work undertaken on breeding farms.