Belgian dog mitochondrial DNA database for forensics

A Belgian population sample of 117 unrelated breed dogs and mongrels, was mitochondrial DNA profiled by sequencing the two hypervariable regions HV1 and HV2. The complete control region of each dog was amplified in a single PCR. The combination of eight sequencing reactions compiles the mtDNA profile, of which each position was covered at least twice. 48 haplotypes were identified, of which 32 were unique in the studied population sample. The most frequent profile was observed in 18% of the analysed dogs. The occurrence of the profiles in the Belgian population sample is similar to those observed in other at random sampled populations of unrelated dogs. The exclusion capacity is 0.93, which is lower than for the human mtDNA control region, but is still informative in forensics. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.