Phylogenetic Analysis of South East Asian Countries Chickens Based on Mitochondrial DNA Variations

Domestic chickens have long been important to human societies for food, religion, entertainment, and decorative uses, yet the origins and phylogeography of chickens through Asia remain uncertain. In this study, the complete mitochondrial (mtDNA) D-loop sequences were analyzed for a total of 27 individuals of Cambodia (n=13), Myanmar (n=6), Bangladesh (n=3) Red junglefowls (RJFs) and Laos native chickens (n=5). Sequences of mtDNA D-loop of these chickens were compared with 67 D-loop chicken sequences annotated in the GenBank; White Leghorn, RJFs and other Asiatic chickens to identify the phylogenetic relationship within and among Cambodia, Myanmar, Bangladesh RJFs and Laos native chickens for the conservation and improvement of chicken genetic resources. The nucleotide variation of sequence among 23 haplotypes for within and among populations of Cambodia RJFs, Myanmar RJFs, Bangladesh RJFs and Laos native chickens supported the phenotypic variation of individuals of the populations. The 38, 28, 24 and 23 sites of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in Cambodia, Myanmar, Bangladesh RJFs and Laos native chickens, respectively were observed. All RJFs and Laos native chickens have nucleotide insertion in mtDNA D-loop region comparing with White Leghorn. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the nucleotide sequences of the complete mtDNA D-loop region of the 28 RJFs, 25 other chicken breeds and the 41 chicken haplotypes. Phylogenetic analysis showed total of 94 individuals those were separated into 8 clades. The phylogenetic analysis showed the close genetic relationship within and between the populations of each country. The genetic information from this study is the initial investigation using these populations in Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Laos which may be useful in developing future strategies for conservation and improvement of valuable genetic resource.