Genetic diversity in Furioso-North Star horse breed from Hungary by mitochondrial DNA

Abstract

The Furioso-North Star is a native Hungarian horse breed that has approached extinction several times. To enhance the efforts to preserve this breed, it was declared a national treasure in 2004. Phylogenetic analysis of one mitochondrial marker (D-loop) was performed to determine the genetic characterization of the furiosonorth star. Sequencing of 810 bp of the D-loop in 75 samples revealed 52 haplotypes. These horses showed high haplotype diversity (D-loop: 0.98 ± 0.005) and moderate nucleotide diversity (D-loop: 0.022± 0.011) diversity. Our key finding was that the Furioso-North Star still possesses high genetic diversity. The obtained haplotypes are mostly consistent with known mare families. Our results could facilitate conservation efforts for preserving the genetic diversity of the Furioso-North Star.