PCR identification of meats from chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), pyrenean ibex (Capra pyrenaica), and mouflon (Ovis ammon) targeting specific sequences from the mitochondrial D-loop region

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for the identification of meats from chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), pyrenean ibex (Capra pyrenaica), and mouflon (Ovis ammon) by using oligonucleotides targeting mitochondrial D-loop sequences. A D-loop region (∼700–1000 bp) was firstly amplified and sequenced from various game and domestic meat DNAs, and three primer sets were then designed on the basis of nucleotide multialignment of the generated D-loop sequences. As expected from sequence analysis, PCR amplification of the targeted D-loop fragments was successfully achieved from chamois (88 bp), pyrenean ibex (178 bp), and mouflon (155 bp) meats, showing adequate specificity and reproducibility against a number of game and domestic meats. Mouflon and sheep meats were amplified together in accordance to the high nucleotide identity of their mt D-loop sequences. In this work, satisfactory amplification was also accomplished in the analysis of experimentally pasteurized (72 °C for 30 min) and sterilized (121 °C for 20 min) meats, with a detection limit of ∼0.1% for each of the targeted species. The proposed PCR assay represents a rapid and straightforward method for the detection of possible adulterations in game meat products.