Amplification of microsatellites adapted from human systems in faecal DNA of wild Hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus)

Microsatellite systems originally established for human DNA were utilized for paternity testing from faecal DNA in a natural population of Hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus). Thirty-two primer pairs were applied to amplify DNA obtained from langur faeces. Twenty-two of these primer pairs yielded specific amplification products and 11 loci were polymorphic. Allele distributions and heterozygosity rates were determined for five systems. Genetic information from these five systems was sufficient for paternity exclusion in 46 out of 52 cases. Results were consistent enough to allow genotyping from faeces, although sometimes only one allele was amplified in a heterozygous individual. In conclusion, relationship analyses from faeces are possible in spite of the evolutionary distance between humans and langurs.