[Analysis of microsatellite polymorphisms in Bernese mountain dogs and Newfoundlands]

As the number of detected inherited diseases in dogs is increasing, linkage mapping offers an opportunity for the localisation of the responsible genes. In humans microsatellites are ideal markers for constructing high-resolution genetic maps. Twenty-five dog specific microsatellites which are highly polymorphic in mixed dog breeds, were tested by PCR in a group of unrelated Newfoundlands and Bernese Mountain dogs. The polymorphisms found in this two breeds were clearly lower than in the mixed breeds suggesting that only 40% of the markers tested would be useful for linkage analysis. In addition the allele frequencies and distributions differed among this two purebred but related breeds. Our data suggest that a selection for useful markers for each specific breed has to be performed prior to linkage analysis.