Background: The consideration of the high genetic diversity is indispensable on the course of preservation of endangered animal breeds. Objectives: The authors evaluate the genetic background in the Hungarian native Cikta breed by use of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (CR) sequence firstly. Their investigation was carried out in order to serve data for the maintenance of maternal lineages. Materials and Methods: The DNA samples were taken from the descendants of the eldest families by use of founder sampling method based on pedigree (n = 69) in 2015. The primers described by Hiendleder et al. (7) were used to amplify the region of interest (AF010406). Results and Discussion: The control region of mtDNA showed polymorphisms at 32 sites. However, the herds shared 24 polymorphic sites, so the maternal background of the Cikta appears to be genetically uniform. The total number of haplotypes were 13, furthermore, most of the samples belonged to the haplog-roup B of sheep. This fact proves the decisively European maternal origin of the Hungarian Cikta. The average number of pairwise differences (k) and the average nucleotide diversity (ro) were 6.863 and 5.95 × 10-3, respectively. The values of the Cikta population were not significant (p < 0.10) neither by the Tajima D-test (0.107) and by Fu's Fs statistics (2.533), meaning that the greatly reduced population size of the breed known from the breed history did not cause genetic drift, it is in genetic equilibrium regarding its ancient families. The genetic information confirmed the origin of the families/flocks known from the breed history. A more intense focusing on the maternal side is motivated also by the fact that the females are present at greater number than the males, respectively they remain in breeding for a longer period of time, so they can at larger extent be the depositaries of realization and maintenance of genetic diversity.

The population structure of the endangered Cikta sheep breed was evaluated by means of nine microsatellite polymorphisms. Seventy-two individuals from three flocks were sampled to determine genetic indices in the Hungarian population. Overall, average observed and effective allele numbers were 5.63 and 3.76, respectively. Discriminant analysis based on genotype frequencies revealed moderate genetic diversity among Cikta flocks, since only three loci (OarCP49, CSSM47 and OarHH41) contributed significantly (P<0.05) to differences between subpopulations. Low squared Mahalanobis distances from group centroids also confirmed that the breed is almost equally represented by the three flocks. Moderate level of diversity between flocks was attributed to the long-term effects of a population bottleneck dating back to the 1970s. Negative average FIS value (-0.18) indicated heterozygote excess. Chi-squared tests identified significant (P<0.05) deviation from HWE in the case of BM8125, CSSM47, and MAF214 markers. Continuous microsatellite information is required for the preservation of rare alleles and diversity in Cikta sheep.

The authors studied the present status of Hungarian indigenous sheep breeds based on the genetic background of scrapie resistance. The aim of this investigation was to estimate the relative frequency of prion haplotypes, genotypes and risk categories, as well as to reveal the efficiency of the scrapie eradication programme achieved over the last decade. A novel approach in the characterisation of prion by using its genic variation was also implemented. The authors established that the proportion of deleterious sites (%) can be a useful indicator of the eradication programme. Based on a large sample size, it was confirmed that the scrapie resistance of the Cikta breed is low, and the classification of this breed according to risk category has not improved. However, the frequent genotype ARQ and risk category 3 can also be considered characteristic of the breed. The careful use of these genotypes is permitted and will contribute to the maintenance of breed diversity. The response of prion genic variation to selection for scrapie resistance in the other breeds (Tsigai, Milking Tsigai, White Racka, Black Racka and Gyimes Racka) was definitely successful.

The authors study the current status of Hungarian Cikta Sheep based on genetic background of scrapie resistance. The aim of this investigation was to estimate the relative frequency of prion haplotypes, -genotypes, and risk categories as well as to reveal the efficiency of scrapie eradication program achieved over the last decade. The authors confirmed based on larger sample size the previous knowledge, that the resistance against scrapie of Cikta breed is considered as low, and the classification of this breed according to risk category has not been improved. However, the frequent genotype ARQ and risk category 3 can also be considered for breed specificity. The careful use of these genotypes is permitted and will contribute to the maintenance of breed diversity according to other aspects.