USE OF TROPONIN FOR SPECIES IDENTIFICATION OF CATTLE AND BUFFALO MEATS

Troponin was used as antigen to raise antibody in rabbits for the purpose of identification of the species of fresh, cooked as well as decomposed cattle and buffalo meats by agar gel double immunodiffusion (DID) test. The rabbit anti-buffalo troponin serum (RAB) showed cross reactions, whereas the rabbit anti-cattle troponin serum (RAG) showed no cross reactions and was species specific. However, the (RAD) serum could be made monospecific by adsorbing on glutaraldehyde for detecting adulteration of fresh buffalo meat up to 1% and also decomposed buffalo meat. But, it did not detect cooked buffalo meat. The RAC serum, which was species specific, could detect fresh cattle meat up to 10% adulteration with other meats, in addition to detection of decomposed cattle meat. It could not detect cooked meats of cattle origin.