Effect of Genomic DNA Heterozygosity on Semen Quality in Captive Tigers and Fishing Cats

Abstract

Mating between related animal was unavoidable to occur in captive animal that had limited population or low numbers of founders. This situation affects genetic variation and reproductive success in both male and female. To determine these effects in 7 captive tigers and 7 fishing cats, semen was collected and DNA evaluation for 17 microsatellite markers was analyzed. Genetic variation as defined by degree of genomic DNA heterozygosity ranged from 0.06–0.29 in tigers and 0.29–0.47 in fishing cats. Inbreeding depression that affected reproductive success in male was determined by sperm motility and morphology. Progressive motility ranged from 10–90 % in tigers and 85–90 % in fishing cats. Percentage of normal sperm varied between 48–86 % in tigers and 61–93.50 % in fishing cats. Most of sperm abnormality was due to primary defect. Average heterozygosity in fishing cats was higher than in tigers; however, there was no relationship with sperm motility and normal sperm morphology across individual and across population in both species.
Keywords: heterozygosity, sperm motility, sperm morphology, tiger, fishing cat