Nonamplifying alleles at microsatellite loci: a caution for parentage and population studies.

While genotyping wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) at microsatellite loci for paternity assignment, we found three loci (MAF65, BOVIRBP and CelJP23) with segregating nonamplifying alleles. Nonamplifying alleles were detected through mismatches between known mother-offspring pairs and by significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibria. In a wide range of molecular ecology application, and especially in parentage assignment, the possible existence of undetectable alleles must be taken into account; this may be particularly important for microsatellite data.