title: A PCR-based test for species-specific determination of heat treatment conditions of animal meals as an effective prophylactic method for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
abstract: Efficiency of animal waste sterilization prescribed by the European Union and Switzerland was verified using a pork-based ELISA and two PCR assays (tRNA(Glu)/cytochrome b specific for vertebrates; bovine species-specific cytochrome b mitochondrial genome). A total of 204 samples of feedingstuffs were analysed including reference materials subjected to known heat treatments. Both ELISA and PCR assays were able to detect poorly heat-treated feedingstuffs if there was enough pork-based material present. The proposed species-specific PCR test, however, showed a higher sensitivity and specificity as it specifically detected bovine material. Nevertheless, the PCR assay will not detect bovine material in properly heat-treated feeds as the DNA is too fragmented. It is, however, very useful as a rapid, sensitive, and specific method for the routine screening of animal meals with regard to prophylaxis of BSE.
authors: Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, CH-3003 Bern-Liebefeld, Switzerland.
authors: C I
authors: CI
authors: Kingombe
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Lüthi
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Schlosser
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Howald
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kuhn
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Jemmi