Forensic analysis of dog (Canis lupus familiaris) mitochondrial DNA sequences: an inter-laboratory study of the GEP-ISFG working group.
A voluntary collaborative exercise aiming at the mitochondrial analysis of canine biological samples was carried out in 2006-2008 by the Non-Human Forensic Genetics Commission of the Spanish and Portuguese Working Group (GEP) of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG). The participating laboratories were asked to sequence two dog samples (one bloodstain and one hair sample) for the mitochondrial D-loop region comprised between positions 15,372 and 16,083 using suggested primers and PCR conditions, and to compare their results against a reference sequence. Twenty-one participating laboratories reported a total of 67.5% concordant results, 15% non-concordant results, and 17.5% no results. The hair sample analysis presented more difficulty to the participants than the bloodstain analysis, with a high percentage (29%) failing to obtain a result. The high level of participation showed the interest of the community in the analysis of dog forensic samples but the results reveal that crucial methodological issues need to be addressed and further training is required in order to respond proficiently to the demands of forensic casework.
van Asch
Barbara
B
Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal. basch@ipatimup.pt
Albarran
Cristina
C
Alonso
Antonio
A
Angulo
Ramón
R
Alves
Cíntia
C
Betancor
Eva
E
Catanesi
Cecilia I
CI
Corach
Daniel
D
Crespillo
Manuel
M
Doutremepuich
Christian
C
Estonba
Andone
A
Fernandes
Ana Teresa
AT
Fernandez
Eugenia
E
Garcia
Ana Maria
AM
Garcia
Miguel Angel
MA
Gilardi
Patricia
P
Gonçalves
Rita
R
Hernández
Alexis
A
Lima
Gabriela
G
Nascimento
Eugênio
E
de Pancorbo
Marian M
MM
Parra
David
D
Pinheiro
Maria de Fátima
Mde F
Prat
Elena
E
Puente
Jorge
J
Ramírez
José Luis
JL
Rendo
Fernando
F
Rey
Isabel
I
Di Rocco
Florencia
F
Rodríguez
Anayanci
A
Sala
Andrea
A
Salla
Joel
J
Sanchez
Juan J
JJ
Solá
Dácil
D
Silva
Sandra
S
Pestano Brito
José Juan
JJ
Amorim
António
A
D000818:Animals; D001801:Blood Stains; D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs; D004586:Electrophoresis; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011786:Quality Control; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial