Development of 31 polymorphic microsatellite markers for guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) using next-generation sequencing technology

Though efforts to domesticate guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) have been productive, both feral and wild populations continue to decline due to habitat fragmentation and heavy hunting, increasing the need to monitor and sustain this species. This study reports the first 31 original polymorphic microsatellite markers for guinea fowl by the next-generation sequencing technology. Observed (H_O) and expected heterozygosities (H_E) ranged from 0.033 to 1.000 (mean 0.396) and 0.033 to 0.799 (mean 0.419), respectively. Number of alleles ranged between 2 and 9 per locus (mean 3.387). Nine loci significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (p < 0.05), after Bonferroni correction. Null allele frequency was less than 0.2 in all loci except locus Nmg22 (0.3). Results from this study can serve as baseline information for genetic diversity studies and also inform breeding strategies for the improvement and conservation in both domestic and wild populations of the species.