Status and origin of Egyptian local rabbits in comparison with Spanish common rabbits using mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis

Abstract

<jats:p>&lt;p&gt;Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and cytochrome b (cyt b) gene sequences were used to determine the status of genetic diversity and phylogeny for 132 individuals from local rabbit breeds in Egypt and Spain. The Egyptian local rabbit breeds were Egyptian Red Baladi (ERB), Egyptian Black Baladi (EBB) and Egyptian Gabali Sinai (EGS). However, the Spanish local rabbit breed was Spanish common rabbit (SCR). Previous breeds were compared with European Wild Rabbit taken from Albacete, Spain (EWR). A total of 353 mutations, 290 polymorphic sites, 14 haplotypes, 0.06126 haplotype diversity and -1.900 (&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;P&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;0.05) for Tajima’s D were defined in this study. Haplotype A mostly occurred in 83.3% of Egyptian rabbits and 11.7% of EWR, while haplotype B occurred in 63.8% of Spanish rabbits and 36.2% of the EGS breed. A total of 47 domestic and wild &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Oryctolagus cuniculus&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt; published sequences were used to investigate the origin and relation among the rabbit breeds tested in this study. The most common haplotype (A) was combined with 44.7% of published sequences. However, haplotype B was combined with 8.5%. Haplotypes of Egyptian, SCR and EWR were scattered in cluster 1, while we found only one EGS haplotype with two haplotypes of EWR in cluster 2. Our results assumed that genetic diversity for ERB, EBB and SCR was very low. Egyptian breeds and SCR were introduced from European rabbits. We found that ERB and EBB belong to one breed.&lt;/p&gt;</jats:p>

Relationship between rectal temperature measured with a conventional thermometer and the temperature of several body regions measured by infrared thermography in fattening rabbits. Influence of different environmental factors

“…We analysed a total of 48 rabbits from 8 different does (Figure 1), weaned at 28 d of age, over a fattening period of 38 d. All the rabbits analysed were from the common Spanish agouti-coated domestic meat-oriented breed, belonging to a strain kept at the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering Teaching Farm of the University of Seville (Spain). The genetic characterisation and productive performance of this stock have previously been described by Emam et al (2020) and González-Redondo (2016), respectively. Overall, the rabbits were phenotypically similar to the recently recognised autochthonous breed "Antiguo Pardo Español" (Spanish Common Rabbit) (Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, 2019).…”

Mitochondrial D-loop sequences and haplotypes diversity in Egyptian rabbit breeds

“…Egyptian local rabbit breeds, lines and strains number eight in total (FAO, 2013;Emam et al, 2020). The native (Baladi) rabbit breed is an Egyptian domestic rabbit breed found in rural areas of Delta, Middle and Upper Egypt.…”

“…Egypt is the fourth country in rabbit production, with 7.6 million head of rabbits (Emam et al, 2020). Rabbit breeds in Egypt consist of local (Native and Gabali rabbits) and adapted foreign breeds that have been imported since the middle of the last century for breeding and crossbreeding to improve the fast productive and reproductive performance (Emam et al, 2020).…”

“…Egypt is the fourth country in rabbit production, with 7.6 million head of rabbits (Emam et al, 2020). Rabbit breeds in Egypt consist of local (Native and Gabali rabbits) and adapted foreign breeds that have been imported since the middle of the last century for breeding and crossbreeding to improve the fast productive and reproductive performance (Emam et al, 2020). The exotic foreign breeds (New Zealand White, California, Buscat, Chinchilla, Flemish Giant, Papillon, and Rex) and lines (Spanish V-line and French Hy-plus) became a popular target among smallholders as a result of the widespread increase in the number of rabbit farms (Galal and Khalil, 1994).…”

Influence of Stress Assessed through Infrared Thermography and Environmental Parameters on the Performance of Fattening Rabbits

“…Common Spanish agouti-coated domestic meat-oriented rabbits belonging to a strain kept at the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering Teaching Farm of the University of Seville (Spain) were used. The genetic characterization [42] and productive performance [43] of this nucleus has been previously described. Overall, the rabbits were phenotypically similar to the recently recognized autochthonous breed "Antiguo Pardo Español" (Spanish Common Rabbit) [44].…”