Evaluation of amelogenin and zinc-finger loci for sex identification in captive felids

Abstract

The amelogenin and zinc-finger regions were used for sex determination in six species of felids: Felis catus (Persian cat), Felis chaus (jungle cat), Prionailurus bengalensis (leopard cat), Pardofelis temminckii (Asiatic golden cat), Panthera tigris (tiger) and Prionailurus viverrinus (fishing cat). The amelogenin region in all six felids could be successfully amplified and gave a heterozygous genotype in males and a homozygous genotype in females, except for leopard cats which showed a heterozygous genotype in both sexes. The PCR products from the zinc-finger region could be amplified in Persian cats, Asiatic golden cats, tigers and fishing cats. In the Persian cat, Asiatic golden cat and tiger, the heterozygous genotype of PCR products was amplified in males and the homozygous genotype was amplified in females, whereas the heterozygous genotypes of PCR products in both males and females were amplified from the fishing cat. Thus, the amelogenin region can be used for sex identification in the fishing cat, Asiatic golden cat, jungle cat, Persian cat and tiger. However, the zinc-finger region can be used to determine the gender in the Persian cat, tiger and Asiatic golden cat. In conclusion, both amelogenin and zinc-finger regions can be used to determine sex in certain felid species in Thailand.