Development and characterization of microsatellite markers in the small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata)
Takuma Sato1, Takamichi Jogahara2
1Okinawa University, Naha, 902-8521, Japan.
Background:
The small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) is one of the world's worst invasive alien species and eradication programs are ongoing worldwide. The development of individual and sex identification markers will improve their management.
Methods And Results:
We searched for novel mongoose microsatellite markers using genome-wide screening and identified 115,265 tetra-nucleotide repeat loci. Of 96 loci tested, 17 were genotyped in 28 mongooses from the Okinawa population. The genetic diversity analysis showed that the average expected and observed heterozygosity and number of alleles were 0.55, 0.56, and 2.94, respectively. Of 17 loci, one deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and six loci pairs were likely linked to each other. However, we succeed in identifying all individuals using all of the microsatellite loci. The novel sex identification markers worked successfully in a test using sex known samples.
Conclusion:
Our novel microsatellite and sex identification markers should be useful in studies of individual identification and population genetics of the mongoose.
