DNA barcoding exposes the need to control the illegal trade of eggs of non-threatened parrots in Brazil

Abstract

Parrot egg seizure is frequent, and its impact on the population cannot be quantified due to difficulties in identifying the transportation of the eggs by traffickers. Morphological identification of species in eggs is difficult, especially when the embryos are not viable. In this context, DNA barcoding is an alternative for species identification. In May 2018, 31 eggs were seized at the Manaus/AM airport, Brazil and suspected to be parrot eggs. These eggs did not hatch and were sent for species genetic identification. After DNA extraction with the salting-out protocol, fragments of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene were amplified. DNA barcodes were sequenced, and the results were compared with cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences deposited at the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD). All eggs, except for one, were identified as Graydidascalus brachyurus, a neotropical parrot considered “not threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but this species is highly trafficked. Calculating the threshold for each generated sequence was fundamental for the reliability of species identification, as the traditional 98–99% sequence similarity pattern is not applicable to all taxa. Each country has specific legislations concerning wildlife trafficking, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates wildlife trade internationally. In Brazil, the penalty is higher in case of species threatened by illegal trade, but it is still not effective. Findings of this study highlight the need for strategies to protect non-threatened species, thereby preventing more species from becoming endangered. Clinical Trials Registration Not applicable.