A Comparison of Feathers and Oral Swab Samples as DNA Sources for Molecular Sexing in Companion Birds

Abstract

The early age determinism of the sex in case of monomorphic birds is very important, because most companion birds have no distinct sexual dimorphic traits. Molecular genetic sexing was proved to be one of the most accurate sex determinations in monomorphic birds. The aim of this study was to compare the results obtained by PCR performed on isolate genomic DNA from paired samples of feathers and oral swabs collected from the same individuals. Samples of oral swabs (n = 101) and feathers (n = 74) were collected from 101 companion birds from four different species (Columba livia domestica, Psittacula krameri, Neophema splendida and Agapornis spp.). The PCR was performed for the amplification of the CHD1W and CHD1Z genes in females and the CHD1Z gene in males. The overall PCR success rate of sex determination was significantly higher from oral swabs than from feathers. The PCR success rate from oral swabs was higher in juveniles and from feathers was significantly higher in adults. The similarity between the oral swab and feathers was obtained in 78.38% of the birds. Oral swabs proved to be a more reliable sample for genetic sex determination in the species tested in this study.