Genetic diversity of Bubalus bubalis in Germany and global relations of its genetic background

This is the first study aimed to explore the genetic diversity and population structure of domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Germany and their potential relations to herds in other parts of Europe or worldwide. To this end, ear tissue samples of 285 animals from four different herds, including Brandenburg (n=27), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (n=28), Lower Saxony (n=26), and Saxony (n=28), together with animals from herds in Bulgaria (n=58), Romania (n=63), and Hungary (n=55) were collected and genotyped using the Axiom Buffalo Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Array (90K). This dataset was then merged with 220 genotypes from Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Italy obtained from public repositories. The multidimensional scaling based on identity by state matrix distances followed by a model-based estimation of population structure revealed a mixed genetic make-up of German buffalos with contribution from Bulgaria (Murrah breed), Romania, and Italy....