An evaluation of the International Society for Animal Genetics recommended parentage and identification panel for the domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica)

Abstract

In this study, the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) recommended panel for the identification of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) is characterized based on commonly used statistical parameters. The marker panel is based on 16 short tandem repeat (STR) loci (PIGN15, PIGN10, PIGN57, PIGN26, CliμD16, CliμD19, PIGN12, CliμD17, CliμT17, PIGN04, CliμD01, CliμD11, CliμD35, CliμT02, CliμT13, CliμT43). The alleles of the 16 loci consist of a mixture of tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexameric repeat patterns. A sex determination marker was included in the multiplex for quality control. The repeat sequence of the PIGN markers was previously unpublished and therefore sequenced to reveal the sequence pattern. In total, 1421 pigeons were genotyped on 16 STR loci to generate allele frequency data for each locus. For all 16 markers combined, a PE1 (combined non-exclusion probability, first parent) of 0.9986 and PE2 (combined non-exclusion probability, second parent) of >0.9999 was observed. Comparing the alleged father and mother, a PE value of >0.9999 was observed. Two of the markers, CliμD19 and PIGN12, were found to have relatively high Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and F(null) values. Therefore these markers may be considered to be replaced by other STRs. Another point of discussion may be to add a gender identification marker to the recommended ISAG panel. Not only can this serve as an extra identification marker, but this can also confirm the sex of a sample, because it is challenging to determine the sex based on phenotypical characteristics, especially for chicks. In conclusion, the set of 16 STR markers can be used in routine parentage verification and the identification of individuals.

Forensic DNA Analysis

“…Due to the difficulty in determining the sex of an adult bird, a sexing marker was added to the panel as an extra quality control. The results demonstrated the applicability of the panel in parentage verification and identity control for the domestic pigeon in both routine laboratory settings and casework …”

“…The results demonstrated the applicability of the panel in parentage verification and identity control for the domestic pigeon in both routine laboratory settings and casework. 159 Investigations of threatened animals are important, as there can be a link between animal abuse and human violence. For this reason, DNA techniques have been often used to assist in animal cruelty investigations.…”

Genetic Structure of Racing Pigeons (Columba livia) Kept in Poland Based on Microsatellite Markers

“…The current microsatellite panel recommended by ISAG for pigeons was proposed by the Committee of the Society, which is now called ‘Applied Genetics and Genomics in other Species of Economic Interest’ and has been successfully used by other standardized laboratories that also provide services in the field of personal identification and parentage testing. VHL Genetics undertakes pigeon population studies with the use of these markers [ 43 ]. The authors in this study, based on the statistical analysis, demonstrated the usefulness of this panel, paying attention to parameters such as combined exclusion probability-first parent, combined exclusion probability-second parent, and combined exclusion probability-parent pair, where they obtained the values of 99.86%, 99.99%, and 99.99%, respectively.…”

Standardization of a SNP panel for parentage verification and identification in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus)

“…2009), domesticated cats (Lipinski et al . 2007) and even species of lesser economic importance like pigeons (de Groot & Van Haeringen 2017). They result in high rates of individual identification and parental exclusion.…”

“…Panels were developed based on STRs owing to their high discriminatory characteristics, which result in a high rate of parental or identification exclusion. Probability of exclusion (PE) values of greater than 0.99 in many species can be obtained by combining approximately 15 polymorphic STR markers in one multiplex PCR (de Groot & Van Haeringen 2017). A transition to SNPs for parentage verification and identification for production animals has attracted much interest (Heaton et al .…”