Polymerase chain reaction method to detect canis materials by amplification of species-specific DNA fragment.

Rapid identification of mammal materials in feeding stuffs and food is essential for effective control of a potential source of pathogens, such as those that cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy. A convenient polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay was developed for detection and identification of a canis-specific mitochondrial DNA sequence in foodstuffs and food. The amplified canis-specific PCR product was a 213 base pair band from the D-loop DNA fragment of mitochondria, a high copy gene which should improve the possibility of amplifying template molecules of adequate size among the degraded DNA fragments brought about by heat denaturation. The specificity of this method was confirmed by 8 canis blood DNA samples (from different breeds of dog) and 9 noncanis animal blood DNA samples (bovine, sheep, porcine, chicken, fish, donkey, rabbit, deer, horse). This method was able to detect the presence of canis material in foodstuffs and in food mixtures even when the concentration of canis-derived meat was reduced to 0.05%. Furthermore, it did not appear to be affected by prolonged heat treatment. This method was developed for detection of canis materials in feeding stuffs, and occasionally for medical jurisprudence detection of canis-derived materials.