Genome-Wide Association Study of Fiber Diameter in Alpacas

The aim of this study was the identification of candidate genomic regions associated with fiber diameter in alpacas. DNA samples were collected from 1011 female Huacaya alpacas from two geographical Andean regions in Peru (Pasco and Puno), and three alpaca farms within each region. The samples were genotyped using an Affymetrix Custom Alpaca genotyping array containing 76,508 SNPs. After the quality controls, 960 samples and 51,742 SNPs were retained. Three association study methodologies were performed. The GWAS based on a linear model allowed us to identify 11 and 35 SNPs (-log₁₀(p-values) > 4) using information on all alpacas and alpacas with extreme values of fiber diameter, respectively. The haplotype and marker analysis method allowed us to identify nine haplotypes with standardized haplotype heritability higher than six standard deviations. The selection signatures based on cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity (XP-EHH) allowed us to identify 180 SNPs with XP-EHH values greater than |3|. Four candidate regions with adjacent SNPs identified via two association methods of analysis are located on VPA6, VPA9, VPA29 and one chromosomally unassigned scaffold. This study represents the first analysis of alpaca whole genome association with fiber diameter, using a recently assembled alpaca SNP microarray.