Two‐dimensional electrophoresis for the study of blood/serum proteins of the otter, an endangered species

Abstract

Studies on serum/blood samples from European otters (Lutra lutra), a species under protection in most countries, were undertaken. Building of a two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) protein identification map was started, identifying serum proteins by pattern comparison with cat or human serum protein maps and by immunoblotting using cross-reacting antibodies against the respective human serum proteins. The capture of endangered species is very restricted, thus making fresh samples almost unavailable; most investigations therefore had to be performed on samples collected from animals found dead. Patterns obtained from specimens of this source were compared to the established pattern of serum proteins and of blood or liver cells. Some of the major differences observed can be explained by contamination with cellular proteins and/or the onset of lytic processes generating breakdown products, as shown by preliminary in vitro experiments. Better knowledge of "normal" serum protein patterns and interfering products will facilitate interpretation of data collected from samples with a less defined history.

Forensics on wild animals: Differentiation between otter and pheasant blood using electrophoretic methods

“…From the same animals which served as blood donors for our references, we also obtained whole blood (lysed by freezingkhawing), serum or plasma, and lysed erythrocytes (blood clots lysed in distilled water). Several other frozen otter blood samples were available from earlier analyses [8].…”

“…In the course of a police investigation we were asked to identify an unknown blood sample as being either of otter or pheasant origin. Apart from our own studies [8] there are very few reports on electrophoresis of otter proteins [9] or studies on sera of pheasants or other gallinaceous birds [lo].…”