Mitochondrial diversity of native pigs in the mainland South and South‐east Asian countries and its relationships between local wild boars

ABSTRACT In this study, we analyzed DNA sequence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control regions on the 130 native domestic pigs and eight wild boars in the mainland South and South‐east Asian countries including Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Forty‐four haplotypes were found in the 138 individuals, 41 were in the domestic and four were in wild boars. Only one haplotype was shared by domestic and wild population in Bhutan. In other cases, mtDNA of wild boars did not show close affinity to that of the domestic pigs in the same location, indicating that the native domestic pigs in these countries did not originate in the present habitat. Phylogenetic analyzes of mtDNA haplotypes recapitulated several major clusters identified in other studies, but 11 haplotypes were grouped in a new cluster we named MTSEA. In most cases, more than one lineage group were present in a sampling station, indicating that the present indigenous domestic pigs may have multiple origins. The MTSEA haplotypes were present in relatively high frequencies in domestic pigs in the mountainous area of mainland South‐east Asia (Cambodia and Laos), with a few found in Myanmar and Bhutan. The distributions of MTSEA haplotypes are in great conformity with the distribution of present‐day Mon‐Khmer language and indicated the existence of yet another independent domestication. The D2 haplotypes that distribute high frequency (almost 100%) throughout the Chinese breeds were dominant in Bhutan, Myanmar, and Vietnam. These results suggest an existence of human‐mediated dispersal of domestic pigs from north to the south during the historical expansion of Sino‐Tibetan and Tai peoples. The D3 haplotypes previously reported in north India were found in sympatric domestic and wild pigs in Bhutan. The D3 haplotype is an important proof of independent domestication event and/or great gene flow between wild and domestic pigs in the foot of Himalaya.