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A new 2CTAB/PCI method improves DNA amplification success from faeces of Mediterranean (Barbary macaques) and tropical (lowland gorillas) primates

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Abstract

Animal genomic DNA extracts of sufficient quality to address questions about population biology or behavioural ecology can be obtained from faeces when adequate extraction procedures are used. The presence of PCR inhibitors in extract products appears generally the main factor limiting DNA amplification success. We compared DNA amplification success from faeces of a tropical primate (western lowland gorilla, Gorilla g. gorilla) and a Mediterranean primate (Barbary macaque, Macaca sylvanus) between a standardized extraction technique widely used in animals (QIAamp® stool kit), a technique mainly used in plant species (CTAB) and a new protocol (2CTAB/PCI). Amplification success varied from 51% to 97%, the highest success being reached with the 2CTAB/PCI protocol in both species.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank B. Goossens and an anonymous reviewer for useful comments on earlier version of this paper. This project received financial support from the Ministry of Environment (comity EGPN, France), the CNRS, the University of Rennes 1, the Espèces-Phares program (DG Environnement, EU), AGRECO-GEIE. We are grateful to the team of ECOFAC program (EU) for logistics and permission to work at Odzala National Park and to the Administration des Eaux et Forêts et de la Conservation des Sols (Rabat, Maroc) for permission to work in Middle Atlas. We specially thank Prof. M. Qarro (Ecole Nationale Forestière d’Ingénieurs, Rabat, Maroc) for introducing us to field sites in Middle Atlas, and C. Norais for discussions about plant extraction.

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  1. UMR 6552, Ethologie-Evolution-Ecologie, Station Biologique, University Rennes1, Paimpont, 35380, France

    Dominique Vallet, Eric J. Petit, Sylvain Gatti, Florence Levréro & Nelly Ménard

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  1. Dominique Vallet
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  2. Eric J. Petit
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  3. Sylvain Gatti
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  4. Florence Levréro
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  5. Nelly Ménard
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Correspondence to Dominique Vallet.

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Vallet, D., Petit, E.J., Gatti, S. et al. A new 2CTAB/PCI method improves DNA amplification success from faeces of Mediterranean (Barbary macaques) and tropical (lowland gorillas) primates. Conserv Genet 9, 677–680 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-007-9361-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-007-9361-8

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