Development and validation of a fallow deer (Dama dama)-specific TaqMan real-time PCR assay for the detection of food adulteration

•A new quantitative fallow deer specific real-time PCR method.•All performance criteria recommended by the ENGL network were achieved.•DNA from cross-reacting species amplified with ΔCt value >12.•Successful quantification of DNA-, meat extract-, meat mixtures and model sausages.

The aim of the present study was to develop a real-time PCR assay for the identification and quantification of fallow deer (Dama dama) in food to detect food adulteration. Despite high sequence homology among different deer species, a fallow deer-specific primer/probe system targeting a fragment of the nuclear MC1-R gene was designed. This primer/probe system did not amplify DNA from 19 other animals and 50 edible plant species. Moderate cross-reactivity was observed for sika deer, red deer, roe deer, reindeer and wild boar. The LOD and LOQ of the real-time PCR assay were 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively. To validate the assay, DNA mixtures, meat extract mixtures, meat mixtures and model game sausages were analyzed. Satisfactory quantitative results were obtained when the calibration mixture was similar to the analyzed sample in both the composition and concentration of the animal species of interest.