Use of DNA analysis of histopathological specimens in species identification for purposes of forensic veterinary medicine

Abstract

In some legal proceedings, the species identification of animal on the basis of fragments of biological material is extremely difficult. This applies both to closely-related and to distant species characterized by similar morphological features. In such circumstances, methods of molecular biology are used, whose evidential value is definitely not in doubt. Histopathological scraps may also have to be used for identifying tests. The aim of the present study was to verify the possibility of using DNA analysis in determining the species of animals on the basis of biological material contained in archival histopathological samples. The examined material consisted of twenty-eight histopathological preparations stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The samples had been prepared from the liver, kidney, spleen, and skeletal muscles. Their age varied from one to seventeen years. Specimens (from twelve species) were identified by inputting sequences in the Barcode of Life Database species identification tool on the basis of the similarity percentage figure from the BOLD report. It was found that genetic tests can effectively identify animal species through the analysis of biological material from histopathological samples.