Genetic variation in the MHC of the Collared peccary: A potential model for the effects of captive breeding on the MHC

Abstract

The Collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) is an environmentally and economically significant animal distributed across the southern United States to South America. There is a growing interest in the commercial farming of the Collared peccary to supply a growing demand for local meats. The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) plays a significant role in the susceptibility and resistance of individuals and populations to novel parasite and pathogen challenges. Changing the environmental pressures on a population can alter the levels of diversity and the alleles present in such a population. While the importance of maintaining MHC diversity in limited populations is understood, there is little information about the effects of captivity and captive breeding on such populations, and the different selection pressures that captive populations may be exposed to. Further research is required into the different selection pressures exerted on captive populations, the effects these pressures may have on the genetic diversity in the MHC, and on the fitness of these populations. With the increased interest in the commercial breeding of the Collared peccary, this species offers a unique opportunity to study the effects of captivity and selection for commercial traits on immune function and provide an insight into the pressures placed on the MHC in wild and captive populations.