Evaluation of β-Actin and Mitochondrial DNA Levels in Determining the Age of Remains

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2024 Nov 9

PMID 39519226

Authors

Krzesimir Szymankiewicz

Marek Walczak

Katarzyna Podgorska

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

African Swine Fever (ASF) is an infectious disease affecting pigs and wild boars, causing significant economic losses. Epidemiological surveillance plays an important role in minimizing its impact. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of β-actin DNA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels in determining the age of animal remains from the Suidae family, which could be helpful in epidemiological investigations. The study included selected tissues and internal organs of Sus scrofa domesticus, exposed to natural environmental conditions or kept in stable 4 °C conditions, to assess the levels of β-actin and mtDNA over a period of 18 months. The levels of both tested parameters exhibited the expected decreasing trend over time. However, in most tissues, some discrepancies from this general pattern were observed. The results obtained for bone marrow showed a consistent downward trend and a strong correlation between mtDNA and β-actin, with long-term detectability (up to the 13th month of the study). Therefore, bone marrow could be considered a matrix of choice for age assessment. However, due to various influencing factors, further studies are required.

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