A case study for application of DNA barcoding in identifying species of some imported frozen fish fillets in Egypt

Abstract

Abstract Mislabeling of fish product is a persistent problem driven by economic incentives, complex supply chains, and weak regulations. It has significant consequences for the economy, public health, and marine conservation. The study aims to identify the fish species of some imported frozen fish fillets in Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt. Commercial samples were analyzed and sequencing of a short fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. GenBank and the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) databases revealed definitive identity matches in the range of 99.85%–100% for all imported frozen fish fillets. Sequencing of COI gene revealed two different species in the fish fillets, basa fish Pangasius bocourti and Swai/Sutchi Pangasianodon hypophthalmus . The results showed that 66.7% of the basa fish had been replaced by Swai/Sutchi fish. The phylogenetic analysis showed the sequenced DNA similar to the NCBI database reference sequence. This study revealed that the local grocery store’s imported catfish fillets were mislabeled. However, it is highly recommended that larger samples should be used in further studies to cover a greater geographic area. Meanwhile, DNA barcoding is an excellent technique for detecting how fish products are labelled in Egypt, which is crucial for enforcing quality and consumer protection.