Changes in the Genetic Structure of Lithuania’s Wild Boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) Population Following the Outbreak of African Swine Fever

The emergence of African swine fever (ASF) in Lithuania and its subsequent persistence has led to a decline in the population of wild boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>). ASF has been spreading in Lithuania since its introduction, therefore it is important to understand any genetic impact of ASF ou...

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Main Authors: Loreta Griciuvienė, Žygimantas Janeliūnas, Simona Pilevičienė, Vaclovas Jurgelevičius, Algimantas Paulauskas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:Genes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/13/9/1561
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author Loreta Griciuvienė
Žygimantas Janeliūnas
Simona Pilevičienė
Vaclovas Jurgelevičius
Algimantas Paulauskas
author_facet Loreta Griciuvienė
Žygimantas Janeliūnas
Simona Pilevičienė
Vaclovas Jurgelevičius
Algimantas Paulauskas
author_sort Loreta Griciuvienė
collection DOAJ
description The emergence of African swine fever (ASF) in Lithuania and its subsequent persistence has led to a decline in the population of wild boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>). ASF has been spreading in Lithuania since its introduction, therefore it is important to understand any genetic impact of ASF outbreaks on wild boar populations. The aim of this study was to assess how the propensity for an outbreak has shaped genetic variation in the wild boar population. A total of 491 wild boar samples were collected and genotyped using 16 STR markers. Allele richness varied between 15 and 51, and all SSR loci revealed a significant deviation from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Fixation indices indicated a significant reduction in heterozygosity within and between subpopulations. PCoA and STRUCTURE analysis demonstrated genetic differences between the western region which had had no outbreaks (restricted zone I) and the region with ASF infection (restricted zones II and III). It is concluded that environmental factors may play a particular role in shaping the regional gene flow and influence the genetic structure of the wild boar population in the region with ASF outbreaks.
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spelling doaj.art-de451860f3624e8990deda3b9463d5d32023-11-23T16:24:12ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252022-08-01139156110.3390/genes13091561Changes in the Genetic Structure of Lithuania’s Wild Boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) Population Following the Outbreak of African Swine FeverLoreta Griciuvienė0Žygimantas Janeliūnas1Simona Pilevičienė2Vaclovas Jurgelevičius3Algimantas Paulauskas4Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio 58, 44248 Kaunas, LithuaniaFaculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio 58, 44248 Kaunas, LithuaniaNational Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute, J. Kairiūkščio 10, 08409 Vilnius, LithuaniaFaculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio 58, 44248 Kaunas, LithuaniaFaculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio 58, 44248 Kaunas, LithuaniaThe emergence of African swine fever (ASF) in Lithuania and its subsequent persistence has led to a decline in the population of wild boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>). ASF has been spreading in Lithuania since its introduction, therefore it is important to understand any genetic impact of ASF outbreaks on wild boar populations. The aim of this study was to assess how the propensity for an outbreak has shaped genetic variation in the wild boar population. A total of 491 wild boar samples were collected and genotyped using 16 STR markers. Allele richness varied between 15 and 51, and all SSR loci revealed a significant deviation from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Fixation indices indicated a significant reduction in heterozygosity within and between subpopulations. PCoA and STRUCTURE analysis demonstrated genetic differences between the western region which had had no outbreaks (restricted zone I) and the region with ASF infection (restricted zones II and III). It is concluded that environmental factors may play a particular role in shaping the regional gene flow and influence the genetic structure of the wild boar population in the region with ASF outbreaks.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/13/9/1561wild boargenetic structureAfrican swine feverLithuania
spellingShingle Loreta Griciuvienė
Žygimantas Janeliūnas
Simona Pilevičienė
Vaclovas Jurgelevičius
Algimantas Paulauskas
Changes in the Genetic Structure of Lithuania’s Wild Boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) Population Following the Outbreak of African Swine Fever
Genes
wild boar
genetic structure
African swine fever
Lithuania
title Changes in the Genetic Structure of Lithuania’s Wild Boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) Population Following the Outbreak of African Swine Fever
title_full Changes in the Genetic Structure of Lithuania’s Wild Boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) Population Following the Outbreak of African Swine Fever
title_fullStr Changes in the Genetic Structure of Lithuania’s Wild Boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) Population Following the Outbreak of African Swine Fever
title_full_unstemmed Changes in the Genetic Structure of Lithuania’s Wild Boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) Population Following the Outbreak of African Swine Fever
title_short Changes in the Genetic Structure of Lithuania’s Wild Boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) Population Following the Outbreak of African Swine Fever
title_sort changes in the genetic structure of lithuania s wild boar i sus scrofa i population following the outbreak of african swine fever
topic wild boar
genetic structure
African swine fever
Lithuania
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/13/9/1561
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