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Isolation and characterization of 30 STRs in Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) and potential for cross amplification in other African species

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Abstract

Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) is one of four species of pangolin, endemic to Africa. Two of the African pangolin species are listed as vulnerable and two are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species due to their ongoing exploitation for traditional medicine and bushmeat. In this study, we developed 30 species-specific short-tandem repeats (STRs) in Temminck’s ground pangolin using next-generation sequencing. The markers were also optimized for cross-amplification in other African species. All the markers amplified successfully in Temminck’s ground pangolin with allelic polymorphisms observed in 87% of the markers in giant pangolin (S. gigantea) whereas 60% of the markers were amplified polymorphic loci in both white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) and black-bellied pangolin (P. tetradactyla). Analysis of diversity estimates showed moderate levels of variability in Temminck’s ground pangolin (Na = 5; Ho = 0.559), giant pangolin (Na = 4.909; Ho = 0.514) and white-bellied pangolin (Na = 2.686; Ho = 0.541) with lower values being observed in black-bellied pangolin (Na = 3; Ho = 0.242). This study provides data of the first available STR markers which was amplified in all four African pangolin species that can now be used in conservation genetic and evolutionary aspects of population histories.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to the following persons for collecting tissue and scale samples: Darren and Errol Pietersen; Gus van Dyk, Wouter Jordaan and Dylan Smith from Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, John Davies from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Maxwell Boakye from the African Pangolin Working Group and the Endangered Species Protection Division, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, CITES Management Authority of Hong Kong. The National Zoological Garden (NZG) previously a national research facility under the National Research Foundation (NRF) and now under the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) funded all laboratory analyses. Zelda du Toit was supported as a doctoral candidate under the Professional Development Programme of the National Research Foundation (NRF) as part of NZG grant no 86125.

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Author notes

  1. Zelda Du Toit and Desiré L. Dalton have equally contributed to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. South African National Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    Zelda du Toit, Desiré L. Dalton, Morné du Plessis & Antoinette Kotzé

  2. Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

    Zelda du Toit, Desiré L. Dalton, J. Paul Grobler & Antoinette Kotzé

  3. Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, Western Cape Province, South Africa

    Morné du Plessis

  4. Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    Raymond Jansen

Authors
  1. Zelda du Toit
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  2. Desiré L. Dalton
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  3. Morné du Plessis
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  4. Raymond Jansen
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  5. J. Paul Grobler
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  6. Antoinette Kotzé
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zelda du Toit.

Additional information

Corresponding editor: H. A. Ranganath

Zelda Du Toit and Desiré L. Dalton designed and conducted the experiments, coanalysed the data, wrote the paper and reviewed drafts of the paper. Morné Du Plessis coanalysed the data and reviewed drafts of the paper. Antoinette Kotzé conceived the idea of the research, ensured financial support to execute the study and critically revised the paper. Raymond Jansen provided financial support through the African Pangolin Working Group for sample collection by Maxwell Boakye and reviewed drafts of the paper. J. Paul Grobler reviewed drafts of the paper.

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du Toit, Z., Dalton, D.L., du Plessis, M. et al. Isolation and characterization of 30 STRs in Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) and potential for cross amplification in other African species. J Genet 99, 20 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-020-1176-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-020-1176-0

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