Multiplex Analysis of Animal Species Origins in Feedstuffs and Foodstuffs for the Prevention, Control and Eradication of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) by PCR

Abstract

Recently, highly strict regulations for the prevention, control, and elimination of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) were put in place by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. Furthermore, because of health concerns, there is a greater demand for knowledge about the composition of feeds and foods, particularly pet food and ruminant feed, so determining the species of origin is critical. Therefore, there is a dire need for an advanced technique that should be rapid, specific, and inexpensive. The purpose of this study was to develop an M-PCR (multiplex PCR) assay that could identify TSEs causing origin species concurrently in food and feed products while employing fluorescent dyes that were less expensive than doubly labelled probes. The development and optimization of M-PCR allowed for the analysis of the origin of animal species' DNAs in complicated feed and food matrices. The primers were designed using specific segments of DNA sequences of the targeted species (bovine: 271bp, ovine: 119bp, caprine: 224bp). The optimized M-PCR assay may be a useful tool for confirming the species origin of feedstuffs and commodities subjected to denaturing technologies, according to the assay's results.