BASE BASE -  Volume 8 (2004)  Numéro 4 

Microscopic method in processed animal proteins identification in feed: applications of image analysis

Luciano Pinotti
Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technology for Food Safety. University of Milan. Via Trentacoste 2. I-20134 Milan (Italy). E-mail: luciano.pinotti@unimi.it
Anna Campagnoli
Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technology for Food Safety. University of Milan. Via Trentacoste 2. I-20134 Milan (Italy).
Gianluca Tognon
Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technology for Food Safety. University of Milan. Via Trentacoste 2. I-20134 Milan (Italy).
Federica Cheli
Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technology for Food Safety. University of Milan. Via Trentacoste 2. I-20134 Milan (Italy).
Vittorio Dell’Orto
Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technology for Food Safety. University of Milan. Via Trentacoste 2. I-20134 Milan (Italy).
Giovanni Savoini
Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technology for Food Safety. University of Milan. Via Trentacoste 2. I-20134 Milan (Italy).

Abstract

Processed animal proteins (PAP) detection and identification in feedstuffs can be difficult in distinguishing among land animals, i.e. poultry and mammals. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential application of image analysis in PAP identification. For this purpose four reference samples containing poultry meals and four reference samples containing mammalian meat and bone meals were used. Each sample was analyzed using the microscopic method (98/88/EC). Bone fragments are characterized by similar morphological features (colours, shape, lacunae shape, lacunae distribution, etc.) that make it difficult to distinguish between poultry and mammals. Through a digital camera and an image analysis software a total of 30 bone fragment lacunae images at X400 were obtained. For each image 29 geometric parameters related to the lacunae and 3 geometric parameters related to the canaliculae of lacunae, were measured using the image analysis software obtaining 960 observations. Of the 32 descriptors used two, the area of the lacunae and their perimeter, were able to explain 96.15% of the total variability of the data, even though their contribution was different (83.97% vs. 12.18%, respectively). Through these two descriptors it was possible to distinguish between mammalian and poultry lacunae, except in two cases (6.6%), in which poultry lacunae were wrongly classified as mammalian. This latter can be related with higher variability in the lacunae area recorded for mammals compared to poultry. On the basis of the present study, it can be concluded that image analysis represents a promising potential tool in PAP identification, that may provide accurate and reliable results in feedstuffs characterisation, analysis and control.

Keywords : image analysis, official microscopic method, Processed animal proteins (PAP)

Pour citer cet article

Luciano Pinotti, Anna Campagnoli, Gianluca Tognon, Federica Cheli, Vittorio Dell’Orto & Giovanni Savoini, «Microscopic method in processed animal proteins identification in feed: applications of image analysis», BASE [En ligne], Volume 8 (2004), Numéro 4, 249-251 URL : http://popups.ulg.be/1780-4507/index.php?id=14160.