title: First evidence of hybridization between golden jackal (Canis aureus) and domestic dog (Canis familiaris) as revealed by genetic markers.
abstract: Interspecific hybridization is relatively frequent in nature and numerous cases of hybridization between wild canids and domestic dogs have been recorded. However, hybrids between golden jackals (Canis aureus) and other canids have not been described before. In this study, we combined the use of biparental (15 autosomal microsatellites and three major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci) and uniparental (mtDNA control region and a Y-linked Zfy intron) genetic markers to assess the admixed origin of three wild-living canids showing anomalous phenotypic traits. Results indicated that these canids were hybrids between golden jackals and domestic dogs. One of them was a backcross to jackal and another one was a backcross to dog, confirming that golden jackal-domestic dog hybrids are fertile. The uniparental markers showed that the direction of hybridization, namely females of the wild species hybridizing with male domestic dogs, was common to most cases of canid hybridization. A melanistic 3bp-deletion at the K locus (β-defensin CDB103 gene), that was absent in reference golden jackal samples, but was found in a backcross to jackal with anomalous black coat, suggested its introgression from dogs via hybridization. Moreover, we demonstrated that MHC sequences, although rarely used as markers of hybridization, can be also suitable for the identification of hybrids, as long as haplotypes are exclusive for the parental species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science University of Zagreb Rooseveltov trg 6, Zagreb 10000, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3709-7286
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galov
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Genetica Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO) 40064, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Genetica Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO) 40064, Italy.
authors.forename: Romolo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caniglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science University of Zagreb Rooseveltov trg 6, Zagreb 10000, Croatia.
authors.forename: Haidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arbanasić
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences University of Bologna Via Selmi 3, Bologna 40126, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lapalombella
authors.affiliation: Department for Hunting, Fishery and Beekeeping, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Kralja Petra Svačića 1d, Osijek 31000, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tihomir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Florijančić
authors.affiliation: Department for Hunting, Fishery and Beekeeping, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Kralja Petra Svačića 1d, Osijek 31000, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bošković
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Genetica Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO) 40064, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galaverni
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di GeneticaIstituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA)Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO) 40064, Italy; Department 18/Section of Environmental EngineeringAalborg UniversitySohngårdsholmsvej 57, Aalborg 9000, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4882-6595
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Randi
keywords: Canis; gene introgression; interspecific hybridization; major histocompatibility complex; melanism; β-defensin CDB103