Genetic profiles and sex identification of found-dead wolves determined by the use of an 11-loci PCR multiplex

van Asch, Barbara; Alves, Cíntia; Santos, Liliana; Pinheiro, Raquel; Pereira, Filipe; Gusmão, Leonor; Amorim, António

doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2009.05.003

« Previous Next »Forensic Science International: Genetics
Volume 4, Issue 2 , Pages 68-72, February 2010

Genetic profiles and sex identification of found-dead wolves determined by the use of an 11-loci PCR multiplex

Barbara van Asch
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
- Corresponding author at: Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal. Tel.: +351 225570700; fax: +351 225570799.
Cíntia Alves
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Liliana Santos
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Raquel Pinheiro
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Filipe Pereira
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Leonor Gusmão
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
António Amorim
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal

Received 16 March 2009; received in revised form 30 April 2009; accepted 22 May 2009. published online 24 June 2009.

Abstract

A previously described canine-specific 9-STR multiplex, now including two markers for sex determination, was tested for the genotyping of 23 wolves from Northern and Central Portugal. The samples were collected at necropsies and presented varying states of preservation. Complete profiles were obtained in 74% of the samples, partial profiles in 22% and one completely null profile. This survey revealed 15 alleles not previously described in dogs, distributed among 6 STR loci. It is shown that this genotyping system, previously tested in domestic dogs, can be reliably used for obtaining complete genetic profiles in wolves with a matching probability of 2.45×10⁻⁹ and compatible sex identification, even in sub-optimal samples. Moreover, a population structure analysis using the observed genotypes revealed that this multiplexed 11-loci panel may potentially be used for discriminating between wolves and dogs.