Application of a real-time PCR assay for the detection of ostrich (Struthio camelus) mislabelling in meat products from the retail market

A rapid and highly species-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay has been developed for the authentication of ostrich meat (Struthio camelus). The method combines the use of ostrich-specific primers, that amplify a 155 bp fragment of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene, and a positive control primer pair that amplifies a 141 bp fragment of the nuclear 18S rRNA gene from eukaryotic DNA. SYBR® Green dye or TaqMan® fluorogenic probes were used to monitor the amplification of the target genes. Results obtained with the use of TaqMan® probes as detection platform increased the specificity of the real-time PCR assay in comparison with the results obtained using SYBR® Green. Analysis of 100 commercial ostrich meat products from the market demonstrated the suitability of the technique for the detection of ostrich DNA. The results obtained suggest that this method may be routinely applied to verify the correct labelling of ostrich meat products.