Short communicationDevelopment of a real-time PCR method for the simultaneous detection of mackerel and horse mackerel

- A qPCR method for the amplification of a fragment of the parvalbumin gene from both mackerel and horse mackerel has been developed.
- The optimized assay shows good values of efficiency, specificity and sensitivity for both fish species.
- An additional and simple melt curve analysis allows differentiating between both species for authenticity studies.
- Quantification potential of the method was evaluated.

We have developed a real-time PCR method for the simultaneous detection of horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) and mackerel (Scomber scombrus) DNA. This method has been designed to be used as an extension to our previously published method for the simultaneous detection of several fish species. A fragment of the parvalbumin gene was used as target for the development of the reported method. The results showed the required specificity, efficiency of the real-time PCR reaction and comparable selectivity with the previously reported method, therefore their possible complementarity for food and feed analysis is discussed. Additionally, the developed method combined with melt curve analysis allows the differentiation between both fish species which can have interesting applications for authenticity studies.