Paternity testing using microsatellite DNA in alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

Ten alpaca and llama microsatellites (Lang et al., 1996; Penedo et al., 1998) were used to evaluate paternity in 47 alpacas registered at the IVITA Research Station in Maranganí, Canchis Province, Cusco, Peru. The microsatellites were amplified in three multiplex reactions and were polymorphic for all samples. Allele numbers varied between 4 and 20, and both allelic frequencies and exclusion probabilities were calculated using Cervus 2.0. All loci, except two, were within the size range published by Lang et al. (1996) and Penedo et al. (1998). The cumulative exclusion probability for the ten loci was 0.9998, and for each multiplex greater than 0.90. The results confirmed paternity in 18 parent-offspring pairs, but in a further 4 cases different adults were identified as parents than those recorded in the registry, demonstrating the necessity of DNA testing to ensure accurate recordkeeping and guarantee the parentage of registered animals.