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Abstract
In this study, a convenient, sensitive and specific real-time PCR assay was described
for the species identification and their quantification in raw and cooked meat products.
Specific primers and TaqMan probes were designed on the mitochondrial ND2, ND5 and
ATP 6-8 genes for donkey, pork and horse, respectively, and the performance of the
method was tested. In the results, no cross-reaction was observed between the donkey
and pork species specific primer-probe systems and non-target species (bovine, ovine,
chicken and turkey). Only one cross reaction was observed between the horse species
specific primer-probe set and 100ng pork DNA at the ct 33.01 level (corresponding
to 0.01ng horse DNA). The real-time quantitative assay used in this study allowed
the detection of as little as 0.0001ng template DNA from pure meat for each species
investigated and experimental meat mixtures. In conclusion, it can be suggested that
the TaqMan probe assay used in this research might be a rapid and sensitive method
for the routine meat species identifications studies in raw or cooked meat products.