Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bo), Italy.
Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2013 May;7(3):397-404. doi: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2012.11.001. Epub 2012 Nov 29.
Molecular identifications of salivary DNA are increasingly applied in wildlife forensic investigations, and are successfully used to identify unknown livestock predators, or elucidate cases of large carnivore attacks to humans. In Europe most of livestock predations are attributed to wolves (Canis lupus), thought free-ranging dogs are sometime the responsible, and false predations are declared by breeders to obtain compensations. In this study we analyzed 33 salivary DNA samples collected from the carcasses of 13 sheep and a horse presumably predated by wolves in seven farms in central Italy. Reliable individual genotypes were determined in 18 samples (corresponding to samples from nine sheep and the horse) using 12 unlinked autosomal microsatellites, mtDNA control-region sequences, a male-specific ZFX/ZFY restriction-site and four Y-linked microsatellites. Results indicate that eight animals were killed by five wolves (a male and four different females), the ninth by a female dog while the horse was post-mortem consumed by a male dog. The genotype of one female wolf matched with the genetic profile of a female wolf that was non-invasively sampled 4 years before in the same area near livestock predation remains. Genetic identifications always supported the results of veterinary reports. These findings show that salivary DNA genotyping, together with detailed veterinary field and necropsy reports, provides evidence which helps to correctly identify species, gender and individual genetic profiles of livestock predators, thus contributing to clarify attack dynamics and to evaluate the impact of wolf predations on husbandry.
唾液 DNA 的分子鉴定越来越多地应用于野生动物法医学调查，并成功用于识别未知的家畜捕食者，或阐明大型食肉动物攻击人类的案例。在欧洲，大多数家畜捕食事件归因于狼（Canis lupus），虽然有时是散养的狗造成的，但也有繁殖者为了获得赔偿而虚报捕食事件。在这项研究中，我们分析了意大利中部七个农场从 13 只绵羊和一匹马的尸体中收集的 33 个唾液 DNA 样本。在 18 个样本（对应于 9 只绵羊和一匹马的样本）中，使用 12 个不连锁的常染色体微卫星、mtDNA 控制区序列、一个雄性特异性 ZFX/ZFY 限制位点和 4 个 Y 连锁微卫星，确定了可靠的个体基因型。结果表明，有 8 只动物被 5 只狼（一只雄性和 4 只不同的雌性）杀死，第 9 只动物被一只雌性狗杀死，而马则是死后被一只雄性狗吃掉的。一只雌性狼的基因型与 4 年前在同一地区家畜捕食现场附近非侵入性取样的一只雌性狼的遗传特征相匹配。遗传鉴定始终支持兽医报告的结果。这些发现表明，唾液 DNA 基因分型，结合详细的兽医现场和尸检报告，提供了有助于正确识别家畜捕食者的物种、性别和个体遗传特征的证据，从而有助于澄清攻击动态，并评估狼捕食对畜牧业的影响。
