Background

Numerous genetic studies have shown that hybridization do not only occur more commonly than originally thought but also across the entire animal kingdom [1–4]. In particular, hybridization occurs between wild species and their domestic counterparts [5, 6], as well as between native and introduced species [4, 7, 8].

If the fitness of the hybrid-offspring is greater than that of the offspring from each parent species, hybridization on one hand may function as mode of speciation while on the other hand disrupt local adaptations, leading to population decline and loss of biodiversity [9, 10]. The list of consequences observed after hybridization between domestic and wild species is extensive and may include reduced fitness of F1 and F2 generations, accelerated growth rate with subsequent skeletal malformations, increased agonistic behaviour, decreased predator avoidance behaviour, and unpredictable effects on animals’ resistance to parasites [11–13].

While in the past hybridizations were considered to be rare events, nowadays they are increasingly detected because molecular methods often show hybridization despite unchanged phenotype [14]. Because mammalian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is maternally inherited, the detection of mtDNA haplotypes of one species in yet another, morphologically distinct species indicates introgression and thus past hybridization followed by numerous backcrosses [5, 10, 15, 16]. Nevertheless, mtDNA can only detect hybridization along matrilines while paternal hybrid offspring remains undetected. Moreover, mtDNA haplotypes may not be monophyletic within species because of ancestral lineage sorting in addition to hybridization [17]. In the opposite case, Y-linked haplotype markers will only be useful to detect male hybrid offspring as they follow the paternal lineage [18] and thus, results inferred from mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome are sometimes discordant. Due to their biparental inheritance, microsatellites are thus better suited to detect hybridization events, and therefore have been established and used for many animal species [19, 20]. Nevertheless, for the eventual detection of hybridization, the use of microsatellites requires additional efforts such as standardization of allele lengths for both species and for the cross-species amplification in the hybrids [21]. They also require the use of internal genotyping controls when performing PCR amplifications to overcome the possible lack of consistency in allele sizes across different analytical instruments and running conditions [22]. A different approach, besides the use of mtDNA and microsatellite loci, is the exploration of the species specificity of coding sequences. To our knowledge, the genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) have not yet been used to detect hybridization events between vertebrate species.

In vertebrates, the MHC is vital for foreign antigen recognition and the immune response to infections [23]. Some of its genes are among the most polymorphic loci of the vertebrate genomes [23] displaying high levels of allelic diversity [24]. So far, at least six models have been suggested to explain the maintenance of MHC variability, the two most prominent ones being a) balancing selection and b) the rare allele model [25]. Interestingly, domestic species often have higher than expected levels of MHC diversity, given their domestication history [26]. On the other hand, many endangered species exhibit a low degree of MHC polymorphism caused by severe population bottlenecks in their history [27]. Low MHC variability may also stem from the social organisation of a species [28], which may result in low transmission rates of infectious diseases [29] generating low selection pressure for high variability. Hence, hybridizations between species with high MHC allelic variability and species with low MHC variability may be detected by studying MHC allele distribution, given that there are no shared alleles.

There are several reports about hybridizations in caprine species. Hybrids between several wild caprine species have been reported and hybrids between domestic goat and wild caprine species were described as being fertile and having a reduced predator and human avoidance [30]. In few cases, hybrids between the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) and domestic goats (Capra hircus) were reported for both crosses (wild male × domestic female; wild female × domestic male) and as occurring both in captivity [31] and in the wild [32]. However, to our knowledge, neither a general report nor a molecular data based report has so far presented hybridization between Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) and domestic goat in the wild.

In this paper we aim to (i) present the first cases of free-ranging Iberian ibex × domestic goat hybrids, and want to (ii) demonstrate the suitability of MHC loci (under certain conditions) as a molecular tool for the detection of hybridization between species with strongly differing allelic variability at these loci.

Methods

The Iberian ibex

The Iberian ibex is an endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula, which has recently re-colonized northern Portugal [33]. Besides its biological and ecological value, the Iberian ibex is also a much sought after big game trophy, and hence has a high socio-economic value [34]. Although C. pyrenaica is of “least concern” in the IUCN Red List, there are increasing awareness and ongoing conservation efforts in Spain, especially because of outbreaks of Sarcoptes mite in the populations of Southern Spain [35, 36]. Partial sequencing of exon2 of the MHC class II DRB1 gene revealed that the Iberian ibex has a remarkably low level of genetic variation at this locus, with only six different alleles [37].

History of hybrids

In November 1996, a male Iberian ibex from the Rute-Priego Mountains (Cordoba, Spain) entered into a domestic goat herd (mainly Granadinas breed) on the Dehesa Bichira property. Under the acquiescence of the shepherd, who presumed that hybrid goatlings would be “super-goats” (heterosis enhanced phenotypes) the Iberian ibex mated with at least 12 domestic goat females, which gave birth to 15 hybrid offspring in March 1997 (Figure 1). However, the growth rate of the hybrids was similar to that of the domestic goatlings and the failed “super-goats” were slaughtered in October 1997. This situation presents a unique opportunity to validate a new tool for the detection of hybridization.

Figure 1
figure 1

Picture of Iberian ibex x domestic goat hybrid calf with its domestic goat mother (up) and alone (down) in the Mountain of Rute-Priego (Cordoba, Spain).

Full size image

Collection of hybrid samples and DNA extraction

Blood samples were collected, by authorized veterinarian during the annual Animal Health Control Program of Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, from two hybrids in May 1997 and kept, by chance, in 96% ethanol until summer 2011, when DNA was extracted. We also collected blood samples from 29 arbitrarily chosen domestic goats from the same area to investigate the genetic diversity at the exon2 of MHC class II DRBI and to confirm the absence of either one of the six Capra pyrenaica MHC DRB1 alleles from the domestic goat population. Due to the long preservation period of the two hybrids stored blood we used a DNA extraction protocol adapted to non-invasive faecal samples [38]. An aliquot (~200 μl) of both blood samples (mixed with ethanol) was shortly centrifuged, supernatants were removed and the precipitate was dried at 45°C for 30 min. Extractions were then carried out in a separate room exclusively dedicated to low copy number DNA samples. Two blanks (reagents only) were included to monitor for contamination.

Ethics

Blood samples were collected during the annual Animal Health Control Program of Spanish Ministry of Agriculture. All animals were alive until, few month later, the owner slaughtered all the annual production for commercial purposes. Consent from owners was obtained for doing our research.

PCR amplification and sequencing

Exon2 of MHC class II DRB1 was amplified by a two round semi-nested PCR (24), with some modification as follows: PCR I (pre-amplification): PCR reaction mixture (30 μl) consisted of 2 μl gDNA (25–100 ng/μl), 0.25 μM of each primer (DRB1.1 and GIo; [39]), 0.12 mM of each dNTP, 3 μl of 10x PCR buffer (Bioline), 1.5 mM MgCl2, 0.4% BSA, 1.5 μl DMSO, and 0.2 μl (5 U/μl) Taq polymerase (Bioline). Samples were subjected to the following thermal profile for amplification in a 2720 thermal cycler (Applied Biosystems): initial denaturing (4 min, 94°C), 15 cycles (60 s, 94°C; 60 s, 60°C; 50 s, 72°C), and final elongation (5 min, 72°C). PCR blanks (reagents only) were included.

PCR II (semi-nested): components, their concentrations, and thermal profile were similar to PCR I, except we used 2 μl of PCR I-product as template, substituted primer GIo by primer DRB1.2 [40], increased the annealing temperature to 65°C, and increased the number of cycles to 30. PCR blanks (reagents only) were likewise included.

PCR products were purified using the QIAquick PCR Purification Kit (Qiagen) and directly sequenced separately from both directions, applying the Big Dye® Terminator cycle sequencing kit v1.1 (Applied Biosystems, Darmstadt, Germany). Fragment separation and analysis were performed on an ABI model A3130xl Genetic Analyzer using the software Sequencing Analysis v.5.2 (ABI). Newly obtained DNA sequences were aligned, visually checked and edited using the software BioEdit v.7.0.9 [39].

Results

PCR was successful in both 13-years-old blood samples, evidenced by a 237 bp long MHC class II DRB1 exon2 fragment, amplified by primer pair 2 (DRB1.1 and DRB1.2). Sequencing of the fragments revealed that both hybrids were heterozygous at this locus. One allele was identical to the Iberian ibex allele Capy-DRB1*5 ([37]; GenBank accession number AF461696). But because Amills et al.[37] had only genotyped 43 individuals, we carried out a complementary study on 160 wild Iberian ibex and verified the limited number of MHC class II DRB1 exon2 alleles in this species by direct sequencing, yielding again only the six already known alleles [41]. Based on the absence of allele Capy-DRB1*5 from domestic goats we identified this allele as the one inherited paternally from the Iberian ibex. The other allele then had to be the maternally inherited one from the domestic nanny goat. Its sequence was identical to the domestic goat MHC class II DRBI exon2 allele Capra hircus-DRB*13 ([42]; GenBank accession AB008358), which is not present in Capra pyrenaica.

Discussions

Theoretically, hybridization would be often possible because space use of wild and domestic goats overlaps frequently. However, the only shortly overlapping interval between the mating seasons of wild and domestic goats, the mating aversion of wild females to domestic males and increased prenatal mortality rate are limiting factors for hybridization between wild and domestic populations [30]. Hybridizations have also been allowed or favoured as an attempt to improve livestock productivity or they resulted from translocations to zoological parks or reserves [15, 30].

This is, to our knowledge, the first molecular documentation of a Capra pyrenaica × Capra hircus hybridization. Because of seasonal altitudinal migrations of wild goats and because of traditional pastoralism in mountainous environments, direct contact between ibexes and domestic goats can be expected to occur regularly. Such contacts might be more frequent during the summering of livestock in high parts of the mountain range and in lower parts during the rut in autumn-winter time, when animals look for mates and for food to bear adverse weather condition [30, 43]. However, the close co-occurrence of domestic livestock and Iberian ibex is the main threat to Capra pyrenaica conservation [34, 35], because domestic livestock might transmit diseases to Iberian ibex [44] and competes for resources [45]. Curiously, the risk of hybridization between Iberian ibex and domestic goat has so far been neglected. Nevertheless, hybridizations pose direct and indirect risks. Direct risks, because they may divert the evolutionary trajectory of affected populations and thus may even lead to extinction of formally allopatric taxa that are not reproductively isolated [46]. Indirect risk because they may compromise the resistance of animals to parasites [13]. For example, between 1901 and 1953 a herd of hybrids was bred using domestic goat (Capra hircus), Alpine ibex (C. ibex), west caucasian tur (C. caucasica) and Nubian ibex (C. nubiana) and released in the High Tatra mountains (30). But instead of having generated the best trophy game, this herd was quickly eradicated by an epidemic [30].

Numerous populations of Iberian ibex are also already challenged or threatened by contact-transmitted pathogens and by their susceptibility to epidemic outbreaks, of for example, Sarcoptes scabiei[47]. Thus, increased awareness and management consideration are required to control the risks of co-occurrence and thus of potential hybridizations between Iberian ibex and domestic goats.

Conserving the genetic integrity of the Caprinae as recommended by the IUCN Caprine Specialist Group requires appropriate reintroduction policies and adequate management programs to avoid hybridisation and, if occurring, to facilitate the removal of hybrids from sites of occurrence [32]. In order to do the latter, hybrids have to be identified unambiguously.

Cautions should be taken into account (i) in the presence of cross-species evolution in the studied species: commonly, cross-species evolution is characterized by the existence of phylogenetically very similar alleles in closely related species or if the species involved are in the host-spectrum of the same pathogens, and hence the occurrence of identical MHC alleles in other vertebrate hybridization systems cannot be excluded [48]; (ii) because recombination effects at MHC loci may also complicate the molecular identification of hybrids (particularly in ancient hybrids) [49].

Even though the blood samples had been stored in ethanol for 13 years, exon2 of MHC class II DRB1 was still amplifiable from them. The reasons behind that were likely (a) the shortness of the amplicon (237 bp) and (b) the use of a semi-nested PCR, which increases the amount of low copy number template because the products of the first amplification are used as templates for the subsequent PCR [50].

This is the first report of hybridization between Iberian ibex and domestic goat. Notwithstanding, the rangers of the Sierra Nevada Natural Space in Spain informed us that they already detected and removed ibex x domestic goat hybrids: one offspring and one adult male in 1997 (Additional files 1 and 2). This highlighted that hybridizations between both Capra species appear to occur frequently, and hence an appropriate molecular tool could be of vital interest for the conservation of the Iberian ibex.

Conclusions

Our study represent the first documentation of a Capra pyrenaica × Capra hircus hybridization. Due to the fact that opportunity presented us a known hybrid between Capra species, we were able to test the applicability of MHC loci as new, simple, cost-effective, and time-saving approach to detect hybridization between wild species and their domesticated relatives, thus adding value to MHC genes role in animal conservation and management.