Produção de antissoros específicos para a detecção e identificação de carnes em alimentos

Abstract

Species-specific antisera has been made and tested by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) method, with the goal of demonstrating the capacity to verify origins of meat from different animal species in processed meat products. Bovine, dog, horse and rabbit meat, as well as bovine, dog, horse, rabbit and pig serum were tested to prove its immunospecificity in immunosorbent assay with five different hamburger products commercialized in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Results showed specific reactivity of the antisera with its homologous antigens, although heated muscle-tissue extracts of the animals, presented lower reactivity, probably because its proteins were highly denatured by heat. It has been concluded that the ELISA methodology could be applied in the control of meat origin in meat products, being a sensitive and specific method.