Data from: Genetic structure and differentiation of the Italian Catria horse

Catria is one of the 22 native Italian horse breeds that now survive from a larger number. 30 individuals, representative of the Catria horse, were analyzed for 11 microsatellites and compared to data of 10 breeds reared in Italy. Three different approaches, genetic distances, correspondence analysis and clustering methods, were considered to study genetic relationships among Catria and the other horse populations. Genetic differentiation among breeds was highly significant (P < 0.01) for all loci. Average FST values indicate that around 10% of the total genetic variation was explained by the between-breed differences and the three approaches utilized gave similar results. Italian native breeds are clearly separated from the other examined breeds. However, by the correspondence analysis, the Catria appears closer to Maremmano and Murgese. The results of Bayesian approaches give further information showing for Catria a common origin with Maremmano and Italian Heavy Draught. Genetic relationships among Catria and the other breeds are consistent with the breed’s documented history. The data and information found here can be utilized in the organization of conservation programmes planned to reduce inbreeding and to minimize loss of genetic variability.

卡特里亚马（Catria horse）是源自此前更为庞大的马种群后留存至今的22个意大利本土马品种之一。本研究选取30只具有卡特里亚马代表性的个体，对其11个微卫星（microsatellites）位点进行遗传分析，并与意大利境内饲养的10个马品种的相关数据进行比对。本研究采用遗传距离法、对应分析（correspondence analysis）以及聚类分析（clustering methods）三种分析方法，以探究卡特里亚马与其他马种群之间的遗传亲缘关系。所有位点的品种间遗传分化均达到极显著水平（P < 0.01）。平均FST值显示，总遗传变异中约有10%来自品种间的遗传差异，且三种分析方法得到了一致的结果。意大利本土马品种与本次研究纳入的其他马品种存在明显的遗传分化。然而通过对应分析可知，卡特里亚马与马尔马尼奥马（Maremmano）和穆尔杰塞马（Murgese）的亲缘关系更为接近。贝叶斯分析（Bayesian approaches）的结果进一步表明，卡特里亚马与马尔马尼奥马以及意大利重型挽马（Italian Heavy Draught）拥有共同的起源。卡特里亚马与其他马品种的遗传亲缘关系与该品种已被记载的繁育历史高度吻合。本研究获得的数据与相关结论，可用于制定旨在降低近交程度、最大限度减少遗传多样性流失的保护计划。