Use of species‐specific antisera to adrenal heat‐stable antigens for the identification of raw and cooked meats by agar gel diffusion and counter immunoelectrophoretic techniques

Abstract

Abstract Rabbit antisera to adrenal heat‐stable and ethanol‐precipitable antigens of buffalo, cattle, sheep, goat and pig were used to develop an agar gel precipitation test and a counter immunoelectrophoretic method for the identification of homologous species in raw, partially heated and boiled meat extracts. Immunoabsorption was necessary to make the primary antisera species specific. The specific antisera can be recommended for identification of the species of origin of meats and their mixtures (5‐10% adulteration) in raw, partially heated and cooked states even in the case of closely related species, viz cattle and buffalo, sheep and goat.