A chromosomal duplication that includes the canine microsatellite INRA21 in Labrador Retrievers

INRA21 is one of the canine microsatellites recommended for parentage verification by the International Society for Animal Genetics. In Labrador Retrievers, abnormal peak patterns such as three-peak patterns during capillary electrophoresis were frequently observed at INRA21. Pedigree analysis indicated that the abnormal peak patterns were due to inheritable causes, and semiquantitative multiplex (SQM) PCR analysis showed that the abnormal peak patterns were caused by chromosomal duplication. Walking SQM-PCR analysis revealed that the size of the duplicated segment was approximately 1.58 Mb. Genotypes of microsatellites within the duplicated segment indicated that the duplication was an identical-by-descent mutation. This duplication is probably carried by more than half of the dogs in the Japanese population of Labrador Retrievers. The abnormal peak patterns at INRA21 were also observed in German Shorthaired Pointers and Flat-Coated Retrievers. Genotyping analysis of the microsatellites within the duplicated segment in Labrador Retrievers suggested that the abnormal peak patterns observed in the two breeds were due to the duplication inherited from the same ancestor as the duplication of Labrador Retrievers. This study urges attention to the use of INRA21 and shows an example of copy number polymorphisms that are characteristic to dog breeds or lineages.