Caracterização da variabilidade genética em populações da serpente Bothrops moojeni Hoge, 1966 (Squamata: Viperidae): importância para a conservação e utilização na saúde.

Abstract

Studies that concern Cerrado (Brazilian s Savannah) fauna are important as we consider the elevated rate of destruction of its landscapes in the last decades. Bothrops moojeni is one of the species of vipers that occur on the Cerrado area and its venom has shown great applicability in health. In the last years, molecular markers have helped in researches that aim to assess the genetic variability. In the present work, we perform the characterization of 5 populations of Caiçaca (Bothrops moojeni) using RAPD (Random Amplified Polimorphyc DNA) markers and also used a scienciometric approach to highlight the importance of this species in health in the site Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), using the method General Search with the key words: serpente , Bothrops and Bothrops moojeni . The obtained Data were used to estimate the magnitude and distribution of variability within and among the groups using AMOVA. Aiming to analyze the patterns of spatial variation patterns, Pearson relation coefficient (r) was estimated between the matrixes of genetic distances and geographic among the populations. With the 5 primers were obtained 59 loci, from which 81 porcent (48) were polymorphic, ranging between 35% and 69% in the groups. The value of f ST obtained with AMOVA was equal to 0,13 (P smaller 0,0001 - 10000 permutations). Thus, it was possible to observe that Caiçaca populations studied presented a low level of genetic variability (He = 0,19) and most of the genetic variation is within the populations, what might indicate that is already occurring a reduction of the rate of gene flow between the populations. Considering the geographic area studied (lager distance was equal to 851,83 km), populations that are geographically near presented a high level of genetic diversity and the genetic variability is not spatially structured. The populations of Bothrops moojeni studied presented low levels of Genetic diversity for the RAPD loci evaluated. Genetic variability is not spatially structured. Concerning scienciometry analyses, the following key-words: serpente , Bothrops and Bothrops moojeni most of the studies concerning zoology (51 porcent), Pharmacology and Pharmacy (32 porcent) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (23 porcent), there was no paper published till the present date, that aimed to evaluate genetic variability in this species, as well as in the genus Bothrops. We recommend a wide-ranging study to evaluate genetic variability in this species due to its importance to conservation of the ecosystem from which it belong as well due to the great interest in health.