Detection of seagull meat in meat mixtures using real-time PCR analysis

The possibility of the adulteration of meat products with seagull meat disturbs people living in coastal cities. In order to eliminate the suspicions of consumers a sensitive and reliable method is needed for the detection of seagull meat. In order to identify and quantify seagull meat in meat mixtures a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, using species-specific primers and a TaqMan probe was designed on the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene. In addition, it was possible to detect the template DNA of seagull at the level of 100 pg without any cross-reactivity with non-target species (bovine, ovine, donkey, pork, horse, chicken, turkey, goose, duck). Also, the method was capable of detecting seagull meat at the level of 0.1% in raw and heat-treated test mixtures, prepared by mixing seagull meat with beef and chicken at different levels (0.01-10%). In conclusion, it can be suggested that the real-time PCR assay used in this research could be a rapid and sensitive method for the routine identification of seagull meat in raw or cooked meat products. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.