Analysis of mitochondrial DNA of the D-loop region and haplotype mapping of Bos javanicus

Abstract

The genetic relation between the different Bos javanicus (banteng) in Southeast Asia is in some ways uncertain. Bos javanicus is divided into three different groups: banteng from java, banteng from Borneo and banteng from the mainland of Southeast Asia. Some authors don’t agree with this division though.

In this research I investigated if the Thai banteng contains mtDNA of the extinct kouprey, which was already shown in the Cambodian banteng21. In this research I also compared the genetic variation of seventeen different D-loop sequences of Bos javanicus, and I arranged them into different haplotypes. Because no haplotype classification has yet been published for Bos javanicus, I made my own denomination for the haplotypes. Eleven of the seventeen sequences were collected from dung in Huai Kha Khaeng national park in Thailand. The other six sequences were published data, and contained both mainland banteng and banteng from Java. After comparing the data, it was shown the sequences were divided into two well defined branches, one branch for the mainland banteng and one for the Javan banteng. Within the mainland banteng I found five different haplotypes (A, A2, A3, B, B2) and within the Javanese banteng one haplotype (C). So in total I found six different haplotypes between the seventeen sequences of Bos javanicus. Because the Thai banteng belongs to the same haplotype as the Cambodian banteng, it is certain the Thai banteng contains mtDNA of the kouprey as well.