title: Development of a real-time PCR assay to control the illegal trade of meat from protected capercaillie species (Tetrao urogallus).
abstract: A rapid and highly species-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay has been developed for the detection of capercaillie DNA (Tetrao urogallus) in meat and meat mixtures. The method combines the use of capercaillie-specific primers, that amplify a 142bp fragment of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene, and a positive control primer pair that amplifies a 141bp fragment of the nuclear 18S rRNA gene from eukaryotic DNA. SYBR(®) Green dye or TaqMan(®) fluorogenic probes were used to monitor the amplification of the target genes. Results obtained with the use of TaqMan(®) probes as detection platform increased the specificity of the real-time PCR assay in comparison with the results obtained using SYBR(®) Green. The proposed real-time PCR assay represents a rapid and straightforward method for the accurate identification of capercaillie that could be used by law enforcement agencies as a tool for the control of poaching and illegal trade of meat from this protected species.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrición, Bromatología y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro, S/N, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Pavón
authors.forename: Nicolette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pegels
authors.forename: Pablo E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martín
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017931:DNA Primers; D003959:Diamines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D046094:Galliformes / Q000235:genetics*; D008460:Meat; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011804:Quinolines; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D017931:DNA Primers; D003959:Diamines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011804:Quinolines; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; C075526:RNA, ribosomal, 12S; C098022:SYBR Green I