Bi-paternal litter in finn raccoon (Nyctereutes procyonoides Gray 1834) detected by polymorphic DNA markers.

The present paper demonstrates novel results confirming the phenomenon of multipaternity in Finn raccoons. The purpose of the study was to affirm the occurrence of bi-paternal litters in Finn raccoons using polymorphic microsatellite markers. The study was carried out on 37 Finn raccoon females, males that mated with them and the resulting offspring (176 individuals). The offspring came from females mating with two or three different males during one estrus. Parentage testing of 15 microsatellites was used inthe present study. Based on genetic analysis including the control of the origin of the Finn raccoons, it was observed that in the case of double-mating with two different males, as well as triple-mating with three different males, there were 47.06% and 54.55%, respectively, of maternal half-sibs, i.e., animals born in one litter but with different fathers. Paternity was wrongly ascribed in 18.2% of the offspring in the examined Finn raccoon population. The conducted research indicates a necessity to check the origin of young animals selected for breeding stock in Finn raccoon breeding farms.