Reliable wolf-dog hybrid detection in Europe using a reduced SNP panel developed for non-invasively collected samples

Background: Understanding the processes that lead to hybridization of wolves and dogs is of scientific and management importance, particularly over large geographical scales, as wolves can disperse great distances. However, a method to efficiently detect hybrids in routine wolf monitoring is lacking. Microsatellites offer only limited resolution due to the low number of markers showing distinctive allele frequencies between wolves and dogs. Moreover, calibration across laboratories is time-consuming and costly. In this study, we selected a panel of 96 ancestry informative markers for wolves and dogs, derived from the Illumina CanineHD Whole-Genome BeadChip (174K). We designed very short amplicons for genotyping on a microfluidic array, thus making the method suitable also for non-invasively collected samples. Results: Genotypes based on 93 SNPs from wolves sampled throughout Europe, purebred and non-pedigree dogs, and suspected hybrids showed that the new panel accurately identifies...研究背景：阐明狼与犬的杂交过程兼具科学研究与管理应用价值，在大地理尺度范围内尤为如此，因为狼的扩散距离可达极远。然而，当前缺乏可在常规狼类监测中高效检测杂交个体的方法。由于能显示狼与犬之间等位基因频率差异的标记数量极少，微卫星（Microsatellites）仅能提供有限的分辨能力。此外，不同实验室间的校准流程耗时且成本高昂。本研究从Illumina公司的174K犬全基因组BeadChip芯片中筛选出一套适用于狼与犬的96个祖先信息标记（ancestry informative markers），并设计了可在微流体阵列上进行基因分型的超短扩增子（amplicons），使该方法同样适用于无创采集的样本。 研究结果：基于对全欧采样的狼、纯种犬、非纯种犬以及疑似杂交个体的93个单核苷酸多态性（Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, SNP）基因型分析，这套新型标记面板可精准识别……