Genetic diversity and relationships in saharan local breeds of Camelus dromedarius as inferred by microsatellite markers

Genetic diversity and relationships between Tergui's camel populations (Abahou, Amelal, Alemlagh, Atelagh, Azerghaf) in the South Algeria (Hoggar region) were studied using a panel of twenty microsatellite markers. All microsatellite markers were highly polymorphic in all breeds. A total number of 169 alleles from 20 microsatellite loci were detected in 87 camels. The mean number of alleles per locus were 7.15, 6.15, 3.10, 4.45 and 3.25 for Abahou, Amelal, Alemlagh, Atelagh and Azerghaf, respectively. The observed and expected heterozygosities per breed ranged from 0.56 (Azerghaf) to 0.58 (Alemlagh), and 0.59 (Atelagh) to 0.63 (Amelal) respectively. Three different approaches were used to evaluate the genetic relationships. Genetic distances, the factorial correspondence analysis and DACP analysis showed that the Algerian dromedary breeds seem to be genetically very similar and support the decision to consider them poorly differentiated as they inhabited very similar environments.