Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

This study aimed to evaluate the performances precipitation test (a standard protocol applied in Egypt on batches or raw material and finished beef products) for identification of animal species in experimental mixture of fresh minced cattle meat with minced meat of camel, donkey, pig and dog meat with known formulations. In addition, conventional PCR procedure was utilized for detecting different animal species in experimental freshly minced meat samples. Precipitation technique was performed using specific antiserum, which was prepared previously; when the precipitate was formed, it considered a positive result. PCR technique was performed for 35 cycles. The amplified DNA fragments were run on agarose gel stained and visualized using a UV transilluminator. The present result revealed that, precipitation technique was successfully used for identification of individual meat species and detection of adulteration of cattle meat by another one species and low effective in identification of more than three species in freshly minced meat mixture. Agarose gel analysis of PCR product amplified with species specific primers showed that mitochondrial DNA fragments of cattle, camel, donkey, pig and dog meats were 271, 208, 439, 212 and 322 base pair after an amplification of 35 cycles. PCR method could detect animal meat species in freshly minced meat mixtures of two, three species and more than three species. On the other side, PCR could not identify of camel in meat mixture of four species in presence of donkey meat and in meat mixture contain five different species

Issued also as CD