M. Piro1, O. Bouazzati1, M. Bengoumi2, K. El Allali3, M.R. Achaaban3,A. Benjouad4, A. Nabich1 and L. Ouragh1
1Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, 2Biochemistry and Pharmacy Unit, 3Comparative Anatomy Unit, 4Hassan II Agriculture and Veterinary Institute, BP 6202 Rabat-Institutes, 10101 Rabat, Morocco. National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research,4 Angle avenue Allal El Fassi, avenue des FAR, Quartier Hay Ryad, BP. 8027 Nations Unies, 10102 Rabat, Morocco.
ABSTRACT
The first genetic characterisation of Moroccan camel populations were performed by using microsatellite markers. A total of 140 dromedary camels belonging to 5 known populations (Guerzni, Marmouri, Khouari, White, and Jebli) were used. DNA was analysed using 7 microsatellites. Seventy nine alleles were observed: 52 in Guerzni type, 47 in Khouari type, 53 in Marmouri type, 40 in Jebli type and 43 in White type. The average number of alleles was 7.4 in Guerzni type, 6.7 in Khouari type, 7.6 in Marmouri type, 5.7 in Jebli type and 6.1 in White type. A new specific allele (210bp) was identified at the locus CVRL6 in Jebli type. Based on average heterozygosity values, variability was relatively lower and similar in White and Jebli types: 0.6406 and 0.6366 respectively, while it was higher and comparable in Guerzni, Khouari and Marmouri types: 0.7619, 0.7162 and 0.6751, respectively. A high similarity was found between White and Jebli populations and between Guerzni, Marmouri and Khouari population after determination of genetic distances, Fst, AFC and phylogenetic tree. Probabilities of percentage exclusion obtained with the 7 markers were higher than 99.99% for the five populations and probabilities of identification of individual camels varied between 1/8.106 and 1/55.106. The estimated percentage of assignment of each animal to his type shows a good percentage of assignment (85 to 89 %) for the white type.
Key words: Dromedary camel, genetic characterisation, individual assignment, microsatellite
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