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Updated: Sep 22, 2025
09:15
DNA-based Fish Species Identification Protocol
Published on: April 28, 2010
29.6K
Next Generation Sequencing-based DNA metabarcoding for animal species profiling in fish feed
Nur Fadhilah Khairil Mokhtar1,2, Siti Zaharah Imran1, Ming Gan Han3,4
1Halal Products Research Institute, Putra Infoport, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.
Summary
Fish feed may contain undeclared animal species, including pork and beef, raising safety and religious concerns. DNA metabarcoding accurately identified these contaminants, highlighting the need for transparent ingredient labelling in aquaculture feed.
Area of Science:
- Aquaculture and Animal Feed Science
- Molecular Biology and Genomics
- Food Safety and Regulation
Background:
- Global aquaculture expansion drives demand for fish feed, but ingredient mislabelling poses safety risks.
- EU regulations prohibit ruminant ingredients, and porcine ingredients are a concern for Muslim communities.
- Traditional PCR methods have limitations in identifying multiple species in complex feed matrices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a DNA metabarcoding assay for comprehensive animal species profiling in fish feed.
- To determine the sensitivity of the assay for detecting porcine adulterants.
- To analyze the species composition of commercially available fish feed samples.
Main Methods:
- Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based DNA metabarcoding assay.
- Laboratory-prepared fish feed samples adulterated with porcine blood and muscle tissue.
- Analysis of 10 commercially available fish feed samples from Malaysia.
Main Results:
- The DNA metabarcoding assay achieved a detection limit as low as 3% (w/w) for porcine muscle and blood.
- 50% of commercial fish feeds contained porcine (Sus scrofa) and 80% contained ruminant (Bos taurus) species.
- Only one out of ten commercial feeds exclusively contained marine species.
Conclusions:
- Commercial fish feeds in Malaysia frequently contain undeclared mammalian species, including porcine and ruminant.
- The study highlights significant discrepancies between feed labels and actual composition.
- Accurate, legally enforced labelling of mammalian species in fish feed is crucial for consumer safety and religious compliance.
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