title: Molecular Study of the Amazonian Macabea Cattle History.
abstract: Macabea cattle are the only Bos taurus breed that have adapted to the wet tropical conditions of the Amazon. This breed has integrated into the culture of the indigenous Shuar-Asuar nations probably since its origins, being one of the few European zoogenetic resources assimilated by the deep-jungle Amazon communities. Despite its potential for local endogenous sustainable development, this breed is currently endangered. The present study used molecular genetics tools to investigate the within- and between-breeds diversity, in order to characterize the breed population, define its associations with other breeds, and infer its origin and evolution. The within-breed genetic diversity showed high values, as indicated by all genetic parameters, such as the mean number of alleles (MNA = 7.25±2.03), the observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.72±0.02) and the expected heterozygosity (He = 0.72±0.02). The between-breeds diversity analysis, which included factorial correspondence analysis, Reynolds genetic distance, neighbor-joining analysis, and genetic structure analysis, showed that the Macabea breed belongs to the group of the American Creoles, with a Southern-Spain origin. Our outcomes demonstrated that the Macabea breed has a high level of purity and null influences of exotic cosmopolitan breeds with European or Asiatic origin. This breed is an important zoogenetic resource of Ecuador, with relevant and unique attributes; therefore, there is an urgent need to develop conservation strategies for the Macabea breed.
authors: Universidad Nacional Amazónica. Rectoría. Puyo, Ecuador.
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Vargas
authors: Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, España.|Animal Breeding Consulting S.L., Parque Científico Tecnológico de Córdoba, España.
authors: Vincenzo
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1385-8439
authors: V
authors: Landi
authors: Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, España.|Animal Breeding Consulting S.L., Parque Científico Tecnológico de Córdoba, España.
authors: Amparo
authors: A
authors: Martínez
authors: Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, España.|Animal Breeding Consulting S.L., Parque Científico Tecnológico de Córdoba, España.
authors: Mayra
authors: M
authors: Gómez
authors: Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera (IFAPA), Alameda del Obispo, Córdoba, España.
authors: María Esperanza
authors: ME
authors: Camacho
authors: Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Palmira, Palmira Colombia.
authors: Luz Ángela
authors: LÁ
authors: Álvarez
authors: Universidad Nacional de Loja, Loja, Ecuador.
authors: Lenin
authors: L
authors: Aguirre
authors: Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, España.
authors: Juan Vicente
authors: JV
authors: Delgado
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D013020:South America