Pedigree-based analysis of genetic variability in the Chinese Crested dog population in Poland

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyse the level of genetic diversity within the small population of Chinese Crested dogs bred in Poland, considering the common occurrence of hereditary diseases, which is probably linked to the high level of inbreeding. Pedigree data provided by the Polish Kennel Club were used to estimate various genealogical parameters in the ancestral (1860 animals) and active population (1313 animals). The mean equivalent number of complete generations known per animal was 5.97 and 6.75 in the ancestral and active population, respectively. The mean inbreeding levels were 0.083 and 0.049 in the ancestral and active population, respectively. The effective number of founders (fe) and ancestors (fa) and the fa/fe ratio were 38, 20, 0.54 and 79, 34, 0.43 in the ancestral and active population, respectively. It can be concluded that the level of genetic variability in Chinese Crested dogs in Poland is currently satisfactory. However, the high proportion of related male–female pairs may cause future mating problems. The population should be monitored for inbreeding and genetic variation, and breeders should choose males for breeding in such a way as not to create large groups of paternal half-siblings in the offspring.

Keywords

• dog
• relatedness
• inbreeding
• founders
• ancestors