Detecting signatures of inter-regional and inter-specific hybridization among the Chinese rhesus macaque specific pathogen-free (SPF) population using single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers

Background: While rates of gene flow between rhesus and longtail macaque populations near their hybrid zone in Indochina have been quantified elsewhere, this study demonstrates that the inter-specific introgression is not limited to the Indochinese hybrid zone but is more geographically widespread. Methods: Twelve rhesus and longtail macaque populations were analyzed using single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) loci. Results: There is evidence for inter-specific admixture between Chinese rhesus and mainland longtails, with implications for genetic diversity both in the Chinese super-SPF population at the California National Primate Research Center and in other primate facilities. Eastern Chinese rhesus appeared more highly derived than western Chinese rhesus, and allele sharing between longtails and Chinese rhesus was not random with regard to geographic distance, but no significant nuclear genetic differences between eastern and western Chinese rhesus were detected among the 245 genic SNPs assayed. Conclusion: The implications of this inter-specific admixture for the use of Chinese rhesus and mainland longtail in biomedical research should be considered.