Abstract:
Despite the importance of helmeted Guinea fowls, little is known about their origin and genetic background.
This study aimed to understand t he genet ic background of helmeted Guinea fowls in Kenya through the characterizat ion of t heir morphological t rait s, analysis of the mitochondrial DNA D - loop and identification of polymorphisms in the HSP70 gene associated with drought/heat tolerance. Ninety (90) Guinea fowls randomly selected from four domestic populations (70 individuals) and a wild population (20 individuals) sampled from Bungoma, Busia and Laikipia counties in Kenya were scored for primary phenotypic characteristics (shank length, body length, wing length, helmet width, helmet height, head size, live body weight, wattle colour, skin colour and shank colour). DNA was also extracted from blood collected from the 90 individuals. The phenotypic data collected were analyzed and the descriptive statistics obtained compared as percentages, continuous bar graphs and tables using Excel version 2013 and R Core version 3.1.2. Two wattle colour variations were identified, red and blue. Skin colours were grey and white
while shank colours were black, pink and grey. The wild population showed the highest mean values for the quantitative traits measured except live body weight and head size. The populations of Kenyan helmeted Guinea fowls showed a possible limited heterogeneity in the qualitative traits considered. There was a possible positive (0.333) and significant (p<0.05) correlation between body temperature of the birds and outside temperature. The first 700bp of the mtDNA D-loop and first 600bp of HSP70 were amplified,
sequenced and edited. The 25 mitochondrial DNA haplotypes identified will be compared to those observed in other parts of Africa to determine origin and diversity. The SNPs in HSP70 discovered will also be compared
with reference sequences from Genbank to identify polymorphisms associated with drought/heat tolerance. These findings present a genetic pool from which decisions on sustainable use and conservation of helmeted Guinea fowls could be made. This would help farmers, breeders and conservationists to genetically improve domestic helmeted Guinea fowls and also improve their survival in the wild.
