Preliminary data on the genetic structure of the population of stray dogs in Penza  

Aleksandr V. Kuzmin, Postgraduate student, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya street, Penza, Russia), E-mail: kuzmin.san.kuz@gmail.com

Background. A domestic dog (Canis familiaris) is one of the most common do mestic animals, the diversity of their ecological and social status is determined by their re production and reproduction in cities and rural settlements. In populated areas, dogs have a significant impact on the fauna of the ecosystem. The purpose of the study was to analyze the genetic structure of Penza stray dog population based on the study of individual polymor phism by microsatellite loci of nuclear DNA. Materials and methods. The material for the study was hair samples of domestic and stray dogs collected in the period 2021–2024 in shelters and centers for overexposure of stray animals, on the streets of Penza and provided by pet dog owners. To isolate DNA, 23 wool samples were collected, of which 11 were ob tained from stray dogs and 12 from domestic dogs. To amplify microsatellite DNA fragments consisting of tri- and tetra tandem repeats, the primer systems of the Stock Marks Dog Gen otyping Kit identification panel of the American Kennel Association were used. Results. The approbation of 6 microsatellite systems (PEZ3 F/R, PEZ6 F/R, PEZ8 F/R, FHC2010 F/R, FHC2045 F/R, FHC2079 F/R) showed that they are extremely nonspecific for the DNA matrix obtained from dogs living in the territory of the Russian Federation. Apparently, the genetic lines of the domestic dog of the North American continent are quite different from domestic lines. The obtained microsatellite allelic spectra of DNA samples from stray and domestic dogs are mainly represented by heterozygous sets. At the same time, heterozygosity was slightly higher in the population of stray dogs (0.750) compared with the heterozygosity of domestic dogs (0.670). Conclusions. The performed procedure for DNA extraction from hair samples of domestic and stray dogs revealed its low productivity. For a successful study of the genetic structure of the population of stray animals, more productive methods should be used, for example, tissue biopsy. The results of amplification of marker fragments of microsatellite DNA of stray dogs showed poor performance of the tested microsatellite systems of the dog identification panel of the American Kennel Association. It is necessary to start developing its own panel of microsatellite markers suitable for the identification of dogs of domestic cultural breeding.

Canis familiaris, stray animals, population polymorphism, microsatellites

Kuzmin A.V. Preliminary data on the genetic structure of the population of stray dogs in Penza. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Povolzhskiy region. Estestvennye nauki = University proceedings. Volga region. Natural sciences. 2024;(3):33–43.
(In Russ.). doi: 10.21685/2307-9150-2024-3-4