No abstract

No abstract

Authentication of meat assumes significance in view of religious, quality assurance, food safety, public health, conservation and legal concerns. Here, we describe a PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) assay targeting mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene for the identification of meats of five most common food animals namely cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep and pig. A pair of forward and reverse primers (VPH-F & VPH-R) amplifying a conserved region (168-776 bp) of mitochondrial cytochrome-b (cytb) gene for targeted species was designed which yielded a 609 bp PCR amplicon. Further, restriction enzyme digestion of the amplicons with Alu1 and Taq1 restriction enzymes resulted in a distinctive digestion pattern that was able to discriminate each species. The repeatability of the PCR-RFLP assay was validated ten times with consistent results observed. The developed assay can be used in routine diagnostic laboratories to differentiate the meats of closely related domestic livestock species namely cattle from buffalo and sheep from goat.

No abstract

A highly species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for the authentic identification of goat. A product of 436 bp was amplified using newly designed primers against mitochondrial D-loop region. The possibility of crossamplification was ruled out by considering as many as 25 other animal species. Suitability of the developed goat species-specific PCR assay was confirmed for in raw, cooked (60, 80 and 100C for 30 min) and micro-oven-processed meat samples (n = 20 each). A sensitivity of 0.1% was established for detection of adulteration and limit of detection of goat DNA was 0.1 pg. This investigation presents a novel PCR assay with its newly designed primers that could be used for the authentic identification of goat species. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThis work details about a novel diagnostic polymerase chain reaction, which could be used for authentic identification of goat species. This approach could be used for the confirmation of goat tissues in raw, cooked, as well as adulterated samples. The developed technique has also applications in the forensic analysis of wild animalrelated disputes, where this work could solve the problem of goat-related issues. ISSN 0146-9428 Journal of Food Quality

In order to prevent fraud in the sale and strengthen quality assurance, authentic identification of chicken meat is essential. In the present investigation, a chicken (Gallus gallus)-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed for the unambiguous identification of chicken meat. The PCR assay employs pair of primers designed against chicken nuclear 5-aminolevulinate (ALA) synthase gene. Highly chicken-specific diagnostic amplicon of 288 bp was established upon PCR and was evident in all the nine breeds/strains of chicken species. Sensitivity of PCR in detecting chicken meat adulteration was established to be at 0.1 % in the foreign meat matrix, while limit of detection (LOD) of chicken DNA was 10 pg. Suitability of the developed chicken-specific PCR was validated and confirmed in raw, cooked/heat treated (60, 80, 100, and 121°C), and micro-oven cooked meat samples. Possibility of cross-amplification of adulterating DNA was excluded by cross-checking the developed PCR assay with several animal and avian species. The PCR assay developed in this study is highly promising for applications involving circumstances that require authentic identification of chicken meat.

Salmonella continues to be a major food safety and public health threat. In the present study, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotypes Enteritidis (SE) and Typhimurium (ST) were isolated from poultry and characterized for virulence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and biofilm formation. Prevalence of Salmonella serotypes in poultry was 3.35%; predominant serotypes isolated were S. Enteritidis (68.1%) and S. Typhimurium (31.8%). Source-wise, Salmonella were isolated from retail market chicken meat (4.8%), live chicken at farm (2.5%), and table eggs (2.1%). Salmonella isolates produced invA gene of 284 bp (100%), spvR gene of 310 bp (77.27%), spvC gene of 571 bp (22.72%), and stn gene of 260 bp (100%) as virulence/ pathogenicity determinants. Salmonella isolates exhibited resistance to common antimicrobials; 72.7% isolates showed multiple resistance (≥3 antimicrobial class), highest resistance was observed for polymyxin-B (81.8%) followed by nalidixic acid (72.7%), colistin (59.1%), ampicillin/tetracyline (45.5%), ampicillin + sulbactam (40.9%), cefodroxil (18.2%), streptomycin (9.1%), and cefazidine/ceftriaxone-tazobactam (4.5%). Multiple antimicrobial resistance (MAR) index of poultry Salmonella isolates ranged from 0.11 to 0.35; wherein, 59.1% isolates showed MAR of >0.2. About 81.8% Salmonella isolates produced biofilm and were categorized as strong (13.6%), moderate (45.4%), and weak (22.7%) biofilm producers. Occurrence of antimicrobial resistant virulent Salmonella strains in poultry requires implementation of suitable strategies so as to protect the public health. 1 | INTRODUCTION With raising disposable income and increasing health awareness, demand for poultry products is rapidly raising. Poultry meat being one of the most preferred meats due to its higher protein, lower fat, lower price, small unit size, short period of broiler rearing, increasing private participation, and so forth. Further, demand for eggs is also increasing due to lower price and higher nutritional value. In the year 2017-18, India produced 7.7 MMT of chicken meat that constituted 49.64% of the total meat produced in the country (DAHD&F, 2019). Industrial poultry production has picked-up in the last three decades in India; hence, safety of food products produced has also been given due emphasis especially after the enactment of Food Safety & Standards Act in the year 2011. As per the guidelines of act, presence of

No abstract