Berger,B.;Berger,C.;Heinrich,J.;Niederstätter,H.;Hecht,W.;Hellmann,A.;Rohleder,U.;Schleenbecker,U.;Morf,N.;Freire-Aradas,A.;McNevin,D.;Phillips,C.;Parson,W.; We tested a panel of 13 highly polymorphic canine short tandem repeat (STR) markers for dog breed assignment using 392 dog samples from the 23 most popular breeds in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. This STR panel had originally been selected for canine identification. The dog breeds sampled in this study featured a population frequency >/=1% and accounted for nearly 57% of the entire pedigree dog population in these three countries. [Read More]

Eichmann,C.; Berger,B.; Steinlechner,M.; Parson,W. Dog DNA-profiling is becoming an important supplementary technology for the investigation of accident and crime, as dogs are intensely integrated in human social life. We investigated 15 highly polymorphic canine STR markers and two sex-related markers of 131 randomly selected dogs from the area around Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria, which were co-amplified in three PCR multiplex reactions (ZUBECA6, FH2132, FH2087Ua, ZUBECA4, WILMSTF, PEZ15, PEZ6, FH2611, FH2087Ub, FH2054, PEZ12, PEZ2, FH2010, FH2079 and VWF. [Read More]

Berger,B.;Heinrich,J.;Niederstatter,H.;Hecht,W.;Morf,N.;Hellmann,A.;Rohleder,U.;Schleenbecker,U.;Berger,C.;Parson,W.;CaDNAP Group; Crime scene samples originating from domestic dogs such as hair, blood, or saliva can be probative as possible transfer evidence in human crime and in dog attack cases. In the majority of such cases canine DNA identification using short tandem repeat (STR) analysis is the method of choice, which demands, among others, a systematic survey of allele frequency data in the relevant dog populations. A set of 13 highly polymorphic canine STR markers was used to analyze samples of 1,184 dogs (including 967 purebred dogs) from the so-called DACH countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). [Read More]

Linacre,A.; Gusmao,L.; Hecht,W.; Hellmann,A.P.; Mayr,W.R.; Parson,W.; Prinz,M.; Schneider,P.M.; Morling,N. The use of non-human DNA typing in forensic science investigations, and specifically that from animal DNA, is ever increasing. The term animal DNA in this document refers to animal species encountered in a forensic science examination but does not include human DNA. Non-human DNA may either be: the trade and possession of a species, or products derived from a species, which is contrary to legislation; as evidence where the crime is against a person or property; instances of animal cruelty; or where the animal is the offender. [Read More]

Eichmann,C.; Parson,W. The canine mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of 133 dogs living in the area around Innsbruck, Austria was sequenced. A total of 40 polymorphic sites were observed in the first hypervariable segment and 15 in the second, which resulted in the differentiation of 40 distinct haplotypes. We observed five nucleotide positions that were highly polymorphic within different haplogroups, and they represent good candidates for mtDNA screening. We found five point heteroplasmic positions; all located in HVS-I and a polythymine region in HVS-II, the latter often being associated with length heteroplasmy. [Read More]