*2.2.3. Primers used for amplification of the first 539 base fragment of the D-loop region of the birds*

The conserved primer pair, L16750 (forward; 5'-AGG ACT ACG GCT TGA AAA GC-3') and H 547 (reverse; 5'- ATG TGC CTG ACC GAG GAA CAA G-3') were used to amplify the first 539 base fragment of the D-loop region of the birds. The primer number refers to the positions of the 3' end of the primer in the reference sequence **[27].** 

#### *2.2.4. 12S primers*

Primers specific for mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene were synthesized [23]:

5'-CAAACTGGGATTAGATACCCCACTAT-3'; 5'-AGGGTGACGGGCGGTGTGT-3' and directed towards the two conserved regions of the gene. The primers were synthesized by Amersham Pharmacia Biotech (U.K.).

#### *2.2.5. 16S primers*

PCR amplification and direct sequencing With two universal primers (sense, 5'- GTGCAAAGGTAGCATAATCA-3' and antisense, 5'-TGTCCTGATCCAACATCGAG-3') directed toward conserved regions **[24]**, the polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify homologous segments of mitochondrial 16S rRNA from four animal species belonging to family Bovidae, including river buffalo, cattle, sheep and goat.
