Aplicación de técnicas de PCR en tiempo real a la trazabilidad y autenticidad de los piensos

Resum

Traceability and correct labeling of feed are essential issues to prevent frauds and to avoid potential safety risks caused by introduction of any food ingredient that might be harmful to human andior animal health. In the context of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) eradication programs, the European Union (EU) has established a ban on the use of processed animal proteins (PAPS) in feeds for farmed animals, with certain limited exceptions. Moreover, material derived from animals should not be fed to animals of the species from which it is derived (intra-species recycling ban). In this context, to ensure the proper accomplishment of the legislation in force, sensitive and reliable analytical techniques that can identify the source of all ingredients present in feeds are of prime importance. The microscopic official method, based on the detection of animal bone fragments, can detect animal proteins at sufficiently low levels (0.1 %). However, this method is time consuming, requires specialized staff and it does not allow the determination of the species origin of the feed, limiting the identification essentially to the animal class. As consequence, in the latest years the EU has prompted the use of alternative methods to improve detection and gain precise information on feed species composition. Considering these aspects, the aim of this PhD Thesis was the development of TaqMan real-time PCR methodologies for authenticity and traceability control of animal ingredients used in feed formulations. The species targeted in this work were: cow (Bos taurus), sheep (Ovis cries), goat (Capra hircus), ruminant group, swine (Sus scrofa), chicken (Gallus gallus), turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), duck (Arras platyrhynchos x Cairina moschata), goose (Anser anser), avian group, horse (Equus caballus), rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), hare (Lepus capensis), leporid group (rabbit and hare) and fish ...