Development of a species-specific AFLP-based SCAR marker for authentication of black muntjac (Muntiacus crinifrons)

Black muntjac is a rare and endangered deer endemic to eastern China. Due to the economic and pharmaceutical value of the meat, antlers and skin, the species has chronically suffered from poaching though it is regarded as the state key protected animal. To provide an effective molecular method for authentication of tissue specimen (such as meat, skin etc.) of the species, we developed a Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) derived from a species specific Amplification Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) marker. Initially, a 707-bp species specific DNA fragment of the animal was detected by a pair of AFLP primers (Ep7/Mp8). Subsequently, a species-specific primer pair (P-F/P1-R) was designed based on the specific AFLP fragment sequence, obtaining a 298-bp SCAR for the species. Finally, the reliability of the SCAR primers was verified by two separate PCRs using the designed SCAR primers and a cyt b universal primer pair. As expected, all black muntjac samples presented two bands but the others failed to produce the SCAR by merely showing one band. Our results indicated that the SCAR primers developed in this study may provide a useful tool for forensic authentication of black muntjac samples though further testing with larger sample sizes is warranted.