A vadászható fajok védelme: az orvvadászat bizonyíthatósága az igazságügyi genetika segítségével Eseti alkalmazások
Abstract
SUMMARY
Background: Recently, wildlife poaching as a part of wildlife crime caused a
serious decline for several species. Integration of novel methods or specific
applications into forensic sciences increases the range of available actions
against these global activities.
Objectives: The goal of our paper is to present some recent challenges and
limitations of Hungarian wildlife forensics, call attention to these problems, and
increase the veterinary profession’s interest in wildlife crime investigation.
Materials and Methods: In our presented cases several types of samples
– meals (muscles), hairs, swabs, different evidence materials (handkerchief
papers, textiles, hunting tools, secondary surfaces, transferred materials) – were
examined by DNA analyses after (morphological) selection. The targets of our
PCR-based methods are located in both nuclear and mitochondrial genome.
The species identification was carried out by multiplex analyses of mtDNA Cyto chrome (b) region. Additionally, as requested by authorities for the different level
of individualisation, the red deer-specific nuDNA STRs (10 loci in two 5-plex) or
mtDNA control region – of Sus scrofa (CR 15435-16680) and Cervus elaphus (CR
15442-16357) – were genotyped, or sequenced.
Results and Discussion: The professional experiences and the legal conse quences of presented caseworks reveal the usefulness of forensic genetics in
solving Hungarian wildlife crimes. Where persons are skilled in this discipline,
the genetic evidence can play an important role in police investigation as well
as in the legal process.