Rapid and Sensitive Identification of Horse and Donkey Meat in Iraqi Markets Using SSR and PCR-RFLP Based on Mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome B Gene

This study was carried out at the Genetic Engineering Lab, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah. DNA was extracted from samples containing meat of commercial products in the Basrah markets. The products subjected to analysis using polymerase chain reaction （PCR） with species specific repeat （SSR） and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP） techniques based on the sequence of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene （mtDNA cyt b gene）. Then digestion with the Alu l restriction enzyme to establish a differential diagnosis detects and discriminates between meat species and adulteration in the products. SSR primers were applied, has been detected amplification of the encoded gene product, generated 221 bp in some imported minced and canned meat samples. The results show that SSR analysis produced a pattern that allowed a direct identification of horse and donkey meats in some imported minced and canned meat samples （Hana, Monde and Bavaria）. The amplified 359 bp gene of mtDNA cyt b gene from samples in different product was cut using Alu 1 restriction enzyme resulting in restriction fragment length polymorphism （RFLP）. Alu 1 was used to distinguish between the animals meat that belong to the family or one species. The digestion of the PCR product showed differences between products. Where the fragment length generated were 74, 76 and 189 bp. It belonged to horse meat. The fraud was detected in Hana, Monde and Bavaria products available in Basrah markets showing the presence of horse meat in these products that labeled as beef meats 100%. This revealed mtDNA cyt b gene as highly conserved and consequently a good molecular marker for diagnostic studies. Thus, this technique can be applied to food authentication for the identification of different species of animals in food products.