African and Asian elephant ivory discrimination using a portable strip test

Area of Science:

• Conservation genetics
• Wildlife forensics
• Molecular diagnostics

Background:

• Global elephant populations face severe decline due to poaching for ivory.
• Legal ivory trade in Thailand facilitates the smuggling and misrepresentation of African elephant ivory as Asian.
• International trade in endangered species is regulated by CITES.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a portable strip test for discriminating between Asian and African elephant DNA.
• To provide a rapid, accurate, and cost-effective tool for ivory origin verification.
• To support enforcement of wildlife conservation laws and combat illegal ivory trafficking.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) for DNA amplification.
• Employed Lateral Flow Dipstick assay (LFD) for visual detection.
• Validated the assay against international standards for accuracy and specificity.

Main Results:

• The developed strip test achieved 100% accuracy in discriminating between Asian and African elephant DNA (n=105).
• The test demonstrated high specificity for elephant DNA with a detection limit of 0.125 ng.
• Effectively identified the origin of various ivory types, including raw, processed, and aged/fire-damaged samples (n=117), with 100% accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The portable, cost-effective strip test offers a rapid and accurate method for elephant DNA discrimination.
• This tool can significantly aid in enforcing ivory trade regulations and prosecuting illegal activities.
• The assay facilitates timely legal processes and strengthens international conservation efforts for elephants.