Application of DNA technology to check misrepresentation of animal species in illegally sold meat.

Abstract

The present study designed in such a way to use DNA technology to accurately detect species origin of meat from samples received in lab from various stakeholders across country, and to empower the law enforcement agencies with scientific evidences. The protocol designed in lab was universal primer amplification that targets 12s rRNA gene and analysing the products through sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), using AluI and/or HhaI, specifically to differentiate between meat from cattle and buffalo. For further confirmation, species specific PCR and for samples identified as cattle, a sex specific PCR were also carried out. Out of 139 samples received, only 113 passed sample review-remaining were unsuitable for DNA extraction-for further analysis and most of these samples submitted were suspected as female cattle (69), cattle/buffalo (34), buffalo (5), male cattle (4), and one meat product suspected as dog. Out of 112 samples received and analysed to identify the presence of either cattle (male/female) or buffalo, 8 were found to be female cattle (7.14%) and 63 were male cattle (56.25%). 22 samples were found to be buffalo only, 11 samples were admixture of cattle and buffalo, 2 sheep, 1 goat and 2 chicken respectively. Interestingly, 3 samples suspected as female cattle were found to be camel meat and the sample suspected as dog were found to be sheep, on DNA analysis. Therefore, it is concluded that the DNA based molecular techniques applied in this study are suitable to give unambiguous results of meat species identification.