Exclusion diets for dogs and cats: often foreign proteins detectable

Dog`s and cat`s allergy and exclusion diets are often contaminated with foreign proteins and fats. Small amounts of a potential allergen (such as protein of a certain species) in the feed are often sufficient to trigger allergic reactions. The most common problems include dermatitis (skin inflammation), such as Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD): An inflammatory, itchy, allergic skin disease for which there is a genetic predisposition. It is associated with IgE antibodies. In addition, there are non-dermatological allergic disease signs: e.g. respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, ear infections or ophthalmia (conjunctivitis).

If a thorough examination for parasites or other causes of infection such as bacteria or fungi shows no evidence, an elimination diet should be carried out. It avoids all proteins that have always been fed. There is a wide range of commercially available elimination feeds that should contain only the proteins and fats of a particular species.

The allergies are usually directed against one of the animal proteins commonly used in standard animal feeds such as beef, pork, chicken, turkey or lamb. Elimiantion diets usually include "exotic" animal species or commonly used such as horse, goat, kangaroo, crocodile or deer products. This exclusion diet is recommended for 6-8 weeks.

Unfortunately, commercially available dog foods are often contaminated with foreign proteins or fats from other species. In a study by R. Ricci et al. > it was found that in 40 feeds only ten actually contained only the specified ingredients, five of them even no protein of the declared species.

Genaxxon offers a special master mix for the testing of animal foreign proteins, among others in animal feeds: IdentityTaq 2X Mastermix > for direct PCR from feed or food of animal origin, without previous DNA isolation or DNA purification. A short and simple lysis step before PCR without elaborate, separate isolation or purification of the DNA is sufficient. The products used can be prepared, fresh, refrigerated or stored at -20° C. Simply take an approx. 50 mg - 100 mg sample and add 200 μl lysis buffer. After the lysis step, the PCR can be started immediately.

Also available as a quick test in the kit: Genaxxon offers a newly developed IdentityKit rapid test. With this you get a meaningful result after 2 minutes, whether the feed contains protein of a certain species or not. Simply put a defined amount of your PCR product on a test strip and read the result. The test strip is a lateral flow dipstick for the simultaneous detection of two PCR products labeled with FITC and biotin or digoxigenine. For more details, please contact us: info@genaxxon.com or 0731/3608 123.

Specifications and advantages:
- The Mastermix Hotstart Taq polymerase has been specifically optimized to tolerate a variety of PCR inhibitors that otherwise prevent direct PCR from cell extracts.
- The master mix, together with a separate lysis buffer and, if required, additionally with control DNA and species-specific primers for beef, pork, sheep, turkey or chicken, so that a positive control can be driven.
- The innovative Identity 2X master mix guarantees reproducible results, significantly reduces set-up times and the risk of pipetting errors as well as the loss of genetic material during purification.

Ricci R., et al.: "Undeclared animal species in dry and wet novel and hydrolyzed protein diets for dogs and cats detected by microarray analysis."
BMC Vet Res. 2018 Jun 27;14(1):209. doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1528-7.

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