Evaluation of the genetic conservatism of particular genes of the respiratory chain in the raccoon dog

The aim of the present study was estimation of diversity of haplotypes of chosen mtDNA genes in the raccoon dog and determination of their conservatism level. The study material included DNA isolated from blood of farm-bred raccoon dogs. The PCR-RFLP reaction was performed for fragments of raccoon dog mitochondrial genes: cytochrome b (cytb) and cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II (COI, COII). Two endonucleases: HinfI and MspI were used for the restriction analysis of each gene fragment. In each animal group haplotype AA was only observed in the case of cytb gene and COI. The restriction analysis of gene COII revealed presence of three haplotypes. The highest frequency was noted for haplotype BB (0.48). The frequencies of haplotypes AA and AB were 0.32 and 0.20, respectively. The studied mtDNA regions containing fragments of cytb and COI genes were conservative with respect to the occurrence of restriction sites; therefore, they are likely to be used for determination of species affiliation. Due to its variability, gene COII may be useful in genetic lineage reconstruction, phylogeography and identification of demographic changes in various raccoon dog groups.