Forensic utility of the feline mitochondrial control region - A Dutch perspective

Different portions of the feline mitochondrial DNA control region (CR) were evaluated for their informative value in forensic investigations. The 402bp region located between RS2 and RS3 described most extensively in the past is not efficient for distinguishing between the majority of Dutch cats, illustrated by a random match probability (RMP) of 41%. Typing of the whole region between RS2 and RS3, and additional typing of the 5'portion of the feline CR decreases the RMP to 29%, increasing the applicability of such analyses for forensic investigations. The haplotype distribution in Dutch random bred cats (N=113) differs greatly from the distributions reported for other countries, with a single haplotype NL-A1 present in 54% of the population. The three investigated breeds showed haplotype distributions differing from each other and the random bred cats with haplotype NL-A1 accounting for 4%, 29% and 32% of Maine Coon, Norwegian forest cats and Siamese & Oriental cats. These results indicate the necessity of validating haplotype frequencies within continents and regions prior to reporting the value a mtDNA match. In cases where known purebred cats are involved, further investigation of the breed may be valuable.