Detection of genetically modified maize DNA fragments in the intestinal contents of pigs fed StarLink CBH351.
We tried to detect DNA fragments derived from maize in the intestinal contents of pigs fed genetically modified (GM) StarLink CBH351 maize (SL) or non-GM maize. Intestinal contents of 8 SL and 8 non-GM maize-fed pigs were collected at slaughter, and the genes of the recombinant cry9C and the maize intrinsic zein (Zel) were assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 3 times with a total of 4 primer pairs of different expected lengths. The cry9C gene (either 103 or 170 bp) was detected in the rectal contents (with a frequency of 25-37.5%) and in the cecal contents (25-50%) of the pigs fed SL. In a similar fashion, the zein (Zel) gene (either 242 or 329 bp) was detected in the rectal contents (with a frequency of 31.3%) and in the cecal contents (25-37.5%) of pigs fed on SL non-GM maize. These results suggested that ingested DNA was not totally degraded, but is present in a form detectable by PCR.
Chowdhury
E H
EH
Safety Research Division, National Institute of Animal Health, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0856, Japan.
Mikami
O
O
Nakajima
Y
Y
Hino
A
A
Kuribara
H
H
Suga
K
K
Hanazumi
M
M
Yomemochi
C
C
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D004064:Digestive System; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*
D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D007306:Insecticides; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis; D004247:DNA