Sheep are considered as an important livestock species in Albania and Kosova. Bardhoka is an autochthonous breed and is the most milk productive sheep among the long tail breeds that lives in both countries. Our study aimed at comparative analysis of microsatellite polymorphism in 6 loci in Bardhoka sheep breed in Albania and Kosova. It is the first time that these local populations of Bardhoka breed from two countries are compared based on DNA markers. It is analyzed genetic diversity of these populations. Allele diversity, observed heterozigosities, expected heterozigosities, F-statistics, G ST estimates is calculated, using different software package. A total of 72 alleles were found. The average number of alleles per locus was 8.15. Within breeds, the mean number of alleles ranged from 5.8 in population from Kosova to 7.66 in population from Albania. The Albanian population has higher values of expected and observed heterozigosity, higher allele number and higher F IS value. Mean expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.68 in Bardhoka from Kosova (Kobar) to 0.76 in Bardhoka from Albania (Albar). Both populations showed a significant heterozigote deficit. Several factors that could cause this deficit are discussed. Gene flow (0.81) is rather low. The mean F ST (0.238) demonstrated that 76.2% of total genetic variation is due to genetic differentiation within each population. Genetic differentiation between populations was much higher than reported by other authors. Genetic differentiation might be caused by long term isolation of these populations and application of different breeding strategies in each country. The research will go further in the future, increasing the number of the markers.

microsatellite; genetic diversity; gene flow; sheep; local populations

Presentation: oral