Differentiation of European wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa) and domestic swine (Sus scrofa domestica) meats by PCR analysis targeting the mitochondrial D-loop and the nuclear melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R) genes.

This work describes the differentiation of European wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa) and domestic swine (Sus scrofa domestica) meats by PCR targeting sequences from two molecular markers: the mitochondrial displacement loop (D-loop) region and the nuclear melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R) gene. A polymorphic D-loop fragment (∼270bp) was amplified and sequenced in a number of wild and domestic Sus scrofa meat samples, to find a nucleotide region suitable for PCR-RFLP analysis. Sequence data showed the presence of only a few point mutations across Sus scrofa D-loop sequences, not allowing direct discrimination between wild boar and domestic swine meats. Later, the MC1R gene was targeted and Sus scrofa-specific primers designed to amplify a 795bp MC1R fragment. Subsequent RFLP analysis of the MC1R swine-specific amplicons allowed selection of BspHI and BstUI endonucleases to carry out intraspecific Sus scrofa differentiation. Digestion of MC1R amplicons with the chosen enzymes generated characteristic PCR-RFLP profiles that allowed discrimination among meats from wild and domestic swine specimens. The technique also enabled the detection of samples that yielded heterozygous profiles, suggesting hybrids resulting from wild boar and domestic pig breeding. The PCR-RFLP reported here, targeting the MC1R gene may be routinely applied to verify the correct labelling of game products.

Valores del hematocrito y prevalencia de anemia en escolares jujenos / Hematocrit values and prevalence of anemia in schoolchildren of Jujuy

The hematocrit (Ht), as an indicator of anemia in individuals and populations, shows variations in relation to mesologic and genetic factors. Anemia is an endemic disease with insufficiently known prevalence in Argentina, in different age and risk groups and particularly in schoolchildren. The aim of this work was to study the variation of schoolchildren Ht in San Salvador of Jujuy city located at 1,200 m.a.s.l. in order to evaluate the prevalence of anemia and to relate these variations to the socio-economic characteristics of the population. The Ht data proceed from 17,580 schoolchildren of private and public schools. They were grouped by age, sex and socio-economic level. Were considered as anemic the children whose Ht was found: a) under a minimal value accepted for the 1200 m level; b) below 2 standard deviations. For the statistical analysis, ANOVA, chi 2 and correlation coefficient were employed. Independently of age, sex and socio-economic level, the average Ht values agree with those adjusted for the altitude. We observed: a) statistically significant intersex differences, males showing higher values than females; b) a trend to the Ht augmentation in relationship to the increase of the socio-economic level. Independently of the criterion used the prevalence of anemia was low in both sexes, age groups and in all socio-economic levels. Ht values: a) are representative of a schoolchildren population located at a moderate altitude; b) in spite of a trend to decrease in the low socio-economic level, this did not surpass, in most cases, the critical anemia level; c) are not indicative of malnutrition in the schoolchildren examined