title: Development of novel real-time TaqMan(®) PCR assays for the species and sex identification of otter (Lutra lutra) and their application to noninvasive genetic monitoring.
abstract: Developing strategies to maintain biodiversity requires baseline information on the current status of each individual species. The development of genetic techniques and their application to noninvasively collected samples have the potential to yield information on the structure of elusive animal populations and so are important tools in conservation management. Using DNA isolated from faecal samples can be challenging owing to low quantity and quality. This study, however, presents the development of novel real-time polymerase chain reaction assays using fluorescently labelled TaqMan(®) MGB probes enabling species and sex identification of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) spraints (faeces). These assays can also be used in determining an optimum microsatellite panel and can be employed as cost-saving screening tools for downstream genetic testing including microsatellite genotyping and haplotype analysis. The techniques are shown to work efficiently with L. lutra DNA isolated from tissue, hair, spraint, blood and anal jelly samples.
authors.affiliation: Mammals In a Sustainable Environment Project, Eco-Innovation Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Cork Road, Waterford, Ireland. dfjoneill@gmail.com
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Denise B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: O'Meara
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Chadwick
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coffey
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D010041:Otters / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: Lutra; noninvasive; otter; real-time PCR; spraint