For assessing the genetic diversity and genetic characterization of five Egyptian buffalo populations a total of 12 microsatellite markers were used. The total number of buffaloes sampled was 80, collected at random from five farms in five different governorates; Cairo, Kafr El-Sheikh, Shebeen El-Kom, Menoufia, and Beni Suef. The genetic parameters (allelic diversity, allelic frequencies, observed heterozygosity, unbiased expected heterozygosity, and polymorphic information content) were calculated using three different programs. All used microsatellites were polymorphic and ranged from four alleles (Loci; CSSM029, CSSM036, CSSM038, CSSM043, CSSM046, and ILSTS005) to nine alleles (Loci; BM1818 and CSSM047) with a total of 64 alleles in the whole population. Allelic richness for the whole population ranged between 3.297 (in locus CSSM029) and 6.806 (in locus CSSM047) with overall mean 4.574. Within populations, Kafr El-Sheikh population had the highest average of allelic richness (4.384). This indicates the potential of this population to adapt with environmental changes in future compared with other populations. BMC1013, BM1818, CSSM019, and CSSM047 showed the highest allelic richness. PIC estimates were high and ranged between 0.65 (in locus CSSM029) and 0.92 (in locus CSSM022) with an average of 0.82. Values of H o were lower than values of H Nb for all populations, which denoting depression of heterozygotes in these populations and may be attributable to existence of null alleles and inbreeding. This study as well proves the usefulness of heterologous bovine microsatellite markers in evaluation of the genetic variability in Egyptian buffalo populations due to high polymorphism, informativeness of these markers which can be used to develop future breeding strategies and conservation decisions on our indigenous breed.

With a view to detecting the genotypes of both κ-CN and β-LG genes in native populations of Egyptian buffalo using PCR-RFLP technique, 80 randomly, individuals were selected from five geographical locations of some Egyptian provinces. Also, to estimate the population genetic parameters such as, allelic and genotypic frequencies, heterozygosity, and inbreeding coefficient (F IS ) of these studied genes. For genotyping, 453 bp PCR product of κ-CN was digested with AcuI and HpyCH4IV (Isoschizomer for MaeII) restriction enzymes while the 247 bp PCR product of β-LG was digested with HaeIII restriction enzyme. PCR-RFLP results discovered polymorphism at the level of κ-CN gene in all studied Egyptian buffaloes with two distinct alleles "A" and "B". PCR-RFLP analysis for κ-CN gene using both restriction enzymes successfully detected that polymorphic status of the studied populations. We recommended using AcuI enzyme which was more capable for differentiating between homozygous (17%) and heterozygous (83%) individuals than HpyCH4IV enzyme which defined only 4% of homozygous individuals and the remaining was heterozygous (96%) individuals. Existence of heterozygosity excess in all studied populations referred to higher degree of genetic variability between individuals within these populations. On contrary, results of PCR-RFLP at the level of β-LG gene revealed a monomorphic pattern of Egyptian buffaloes and genotyped as "AA" animals which signified that PCR-RFLP assay with HaeIII enzyme for β-LG gene failed to discover any evidence of polymorphism in Egyptian buffalo under the circumstances of this study or all studied animals possess only one allele.