Comparative Study Between Three Egyptian and Two Spanish Local Rabbit Breeds By Using Mitochondrial DNA

The aim of this study is to investigate the maternal genetic origin of three Egyptian local rabbit breeds (Egyptian Red Baladi,  Egyptian Black Baladi and Egyptian Gabali Sinai) and compare their results with two Spanish breeds (European wild rabbits and Spanish common rabbits) based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) information. A fragment of ~ 500 bp of the Cytochrome B (Cyt b) was sequenced and performed phylogenetic analysis. Forty nine variable sites were observed. Eleven haplotypes were defined and haplotype diversity recorded 0.5691. Haplotype 2 was mostly occurred in 84% of Egyptian breeds and 15% of European wild rabbits while, Haplotype 5 was occurred in 75% of Spanish rabbits and 24% of Egyptian Gabali Sinai breed. The other nine haplotypes were accounted for 9.5% of the animals (6 haplotypes for European wild rabbits vs. 3 haplotypes for Egyptian Gabali Sinai). Low genetic diversity was observed between Spanish common rabbits and Egyptian Baladi rabbits indicated that suitable conservation measures should be implemented for these breeds in order to minimize inbreeding and uncontrolled crossbreeding. The literature on European rabbit results suggested that there is closely relationship between Egyptian domestic rabbit breeds and Flemish Giant breed. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that Egyptian Red and Black Baladi breeds are belonging to one breed, and there is a clear separation of Gabali Sinai from it. Our results indicated that European wild rabbit is the origin of other breeds in this study.  

Keywords: Rabbits, Genetic diversity, Mitochondrial DNA.