What conservation insights can we drag from genome-wide SNPs data in Italian small goat breeds?

Bibliographic Details
Title: What conservation insights can we drag from genome-wide SNPs data in Italian small goat breeds?
Authors: Marika Di Civita, Gabriele Senczuk, Alessandra Macciocchi, Christian Persichilli, Paolo Colangelo, Donato Matassino, Fabio Pilla
Source: Italian Journal of Animal Science, Vol 23, Iss 1, Pp 1812-1825 (2024)
Publisher Information: Taylor & Francis Group, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Animal culture
Subject Terms: single nucleotide polymorphisms, local goat populations, runs of homozygosity islands, genome-wide diversity, local breeds conservation, Animal culture, SF1-1100
More Details: Italy is home to several indigenous goat breeds with great economic and cultural implications, but their genetic makeup remains largely unexplored. This study used the Illumina Goat SNP chip to genotype 142 samples from four Italian goat breeds: Capestrina, Fulva, Grigia Ciociara, and Bianca Monticellana. The genotypes were combined with genome-wide SNP data from 31 Italian breeds to evaluate the genetic profile of Lazio’s indigenous goats. After filtering, the dataset included 51,423 SNPs. Genetic structure and diversity were assessed using MDS, ADMIXTURE analysis and inbreeding coefficients. Focusing on the four Lazio breeds, we examined inbreeding levels (FROH), effective population size (Ne), gene exchange, and runs of homozygosity islands (ROHi). The Bianca appeared highly inbred, whereas Fulva, Capestrina, and Grigia showed heterozygosity levels comparable to other breeds. The increased sample sizes highlighted changes in genetic composition, indeed, ADMIXTURE analysis revealed genetic substructures within Bianca and Fulva. The Ne was found to be declining, with Bianca having the lowest Ne, indicating high susceptibility to inbreeding and genetic drift. The NetView analysis identified two interconnected genetic groups corresponding to: Bianca and Fulva. Key contributors to genetic structure, representing ancestral genotypes, were identified, providing targets for conservation. Moreover, ROH analysis pinpointed individuals with excessive ROH and long homozygosity stretches, particularly in Capestrina and Bianca, which could be limited from breeding to preserve genetic diversity. Finally, ROHi revealed genes linked to coat colour, disease resistance, and heat stress tolerance. These conclusions emphasise the importance of local breeds in maintaining biodiversity and enhancing breeding strategies.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1594-4077
1828-051X
1828051X
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1594-4077; https://doaj.org/toc/1828-051X
DOI: 10.1080/1828051X.2024.2432540
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/905a542bc24a41a99e7cf0238d46dd42
Accession Number: edsdoj.905a542bc24a41a99e7cf0238d46dd42
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:15944077
1828051X
DOI:10.1080/1828051X.2024.2432540
Published in:Italian Journal of Animal Science
Language:English