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Suarez P, Vallejos-Almirall A, Fernández I, Gonzalez-Chavarria I, Alonso J, Vidal G. Identification of Cryptosporidium parvum and Blastocystis hominis subtype ST3 in Cholga mussel and treated sewage: Preliminary evidence of fecal contamination in harvesting area. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2024; 34:e00214. [PMID: 38188968 PMCID: PMC10770711 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium parvum and Blastocystis hominis are foodborne parasites known for causing diarrhea. They accumulate in mussels grown on contaminated water bodies, due to the discharge of treated sewage from sewage treatment plants (STP). Despite this, some countries like Chile do not include these parasites in the control or monitoring of sewage water. The objective of this research was to evaluate the contamination of C. parvum. and B. hominis from treated sewage (disinfected by chlorination) and Cholga mussels in a touristic rural cove from the bay of Concepción. Cholga mussels from commercial stores and a treated sewage sample were analyzed. Cryptosporidium spp. was identified by Ziehl-Neelsen-Staining (ZNS) and C. parvum by direct-immunofluorescence assay (IFA) from ZNS-positive samples. Blastocystis hominis was identified by PCR using locus SSU rDNA. C. parvum and B. hominis subtype ST3 were found in 40% and 45% of Cholga mussel samples, respectively, and both parasites were identified in the treated sewage. Blastocystis hominis SSU rDNA gene alignment from Cholga mussels and treated sewage showed 89% of similarity, indicating that could be the same parasite in both samples. We describe the first evidence of possible contamination with these parasites from treated sewage to Cholga mussel suggesting an environmental contamination with high human risk. Based on these results, further studies will consider all the rural coves and STP from the bay to prevent possible contamination of these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Suarez
- Environmental Engineering & Biotechnology Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty & EULA-CHILE Center, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
- Water Research Center for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), ANID Fondap Center, Victoria 1295, Concepción, Chile
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - A. Vallejos-Almirall
- Grupo Interdisciplinario de Biotecnología Marina (GIBMAR), Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - I. Fernández
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - I. Gonzalez-Chavarria
- Laboratorio de Lipoproteínas y Cáncer, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - J.L. Alonso
- Instituto de Ingeniería del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - G. Vidal
- Environmental Engineering & Biotechnology Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty & EULA-CHILE Center, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
- Water Research Center for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), ANID Fondap Center, Victoria 1295, Concepción, Chile
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Merks H, Boone R, Janecko N, Viswanathan M, Dixon BR. Foodborne protozoan parasites in fresh mussels and oysters purchased at retail in Canada. Int J Food Microbiol 2023; 399:110248. [PMID: 37210953 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2023.110248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Studies worldwide have reported the presence of protozoan parasites in a variety of commercial bivalve shellfish. The uptake of these parasites by shellfish occurs during filter feeding in faecally-contaminated waters. The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma in fresh, live shellfish purchased in three Canadian provinces as part of the retail surveillance activities led by FoodNet Canada (Public Health Agency of Canada). Packages containing mussels (n = 253) or oysters (n = 130) were purchased at grocery stores in FoodNet Canada sentinel sites on a biweekly basis throughout 2018 and 2019, and shipped in coolers to Health Canada for testing. A small number of packages were not tested due to insufficient quantity or poor quality. Following DNA extraction from homogenized, pooled tissues, nested PCR and DNA sequencing were used to detect parasite-specific sequences. Epifluorescence microscopy was used to confirm the presence of intact cysts and oocysts in sequence-confirmed PCR-positive samples. Giardia duodenalis DNA was present in 2.4 % of 247 packages of mussels and 4.0 % of 125 packages of oysters, while Cryptosporidium parvum DNA was present in 5.3 % of 247 packages of mussels and 7.2 % of 125 packages of oysters. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was only found in mussels in 2018 (1.6 % of 249 packages). Parasite DNA was detected in shellfish purchased in all three Canadian provinces sampled, and there was no apparent seasonal variation in prevalence. While the present study did not test for viability, parasites are known to survive for long periods in the marine environment, and these findings suggest that there is a risk of infection, especially when shellfish are consumed raw.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Merks
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Ryan Boone
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Nicol Janecko
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom; Food-borne Disease and Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, 370 Speedvale Avenue West, Suite #201, Guelph, Ontario N1H 7M7, Canada
| | - Mythri Viswanathan
- Food-borne Disease and Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, 370 Speedvale Avenue West, Suite #201, Guelph, Ontario N1H 7M7, Canada
| | - Brent R Dixon
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada.
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Fradette MS, Culley AI, Charette SJ. Detection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in Environmental Water Samples: A Journey into the Past and New Perspectives. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061175. [PMID: 35744692 PMCID: PMC9228427 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the major issues linked with producing safe water for consumption is the presence of the parasitic protozoa Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. Since they are both responsible for gastrointestinal illnesses that can be waterborne, their monitoring is crucial, especially in water sources feeding treatment plants. Although their discovery was made in the early 1900s and even before, it was only in 1999 that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a standardized protocol for the detection of these parasites, modified and named today the U.S. EPA 1623.1 Method. It involves the flow-through filtration of a large volume of the water of interest, the elution of the biological material retained on the filter, the purification of the (oo)cysts, and the detection by immunofluorescence of the target parasites. Since the 1990s, several molecular-biology-based techniques were also developed to detect Cryptosporidium and Giardia cells from environmental or clinical samples. The application of U.S. EPA 1623.1 as well as numerous biomolecular methods are reviewed in this article, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed guiding the readers, such as graduate students, researchers, drinking water managers, epidemiologists, and public health specialists, through the ever-expanding number of techniques available in the literature for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Stéphanie Fradette
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.I.C.); (S.J.C.)
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et Génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Aménagement et Développement du Territoire (CRAD), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Correspondence:
| | - Alexander I. Culley
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.I.C.); (S.J.C.)
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et Génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Buccale (GREB), Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Steve J. Charette
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.I.C.); (S.J.C.)
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et Génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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Evaluation of real-time qPCR-based methods to detect the DNA of the three protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia duodenalis and Toxoplasma gondii in the tissue and hemolymph of blue mussels (M. edulis). Food Microbiol 2021; 102:103870. [PMID: 34809958 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2021.103870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis and Toxoplasma gondii can be transmitted to humans through shellfish consumption. No standardized methods are available for their detection in these foods, and the performance of the applied methods are rarely described in occurrence studies. Through spiking experiments, we characterized different performance criteria (e.g. sensitivity, estimated limit of detection (eLD95METH), parasite DNA recovery rates (DNA-RR)) of real-time qPCR based-methods for the detection of the three protozoa in mussel's tissues and hemolymph. Digestion of mussels tissues by trypsin instead of pepsin and the use of large buffer volumes was the most efficient for processing 50g-sample. Trypsin digestion followed by lipids removal and DNA extraction by thermal shocks and a BOOM-based technique performed poorly (e.g. eLD95METH from 30 to >3000 parasites/g). But trypsin digestion and direct DNA extraction by bead-beating and FastPrep homogenizer achieved higher performance (e.g. eLD95METH: 4-400 parasites/g, DNA-RR: 19-80%). Direct DNA recovery from concentrated hemolymph, by thermal shocks and cell lysis products removal was not efficient to sensitively detect the protozoa (e.g. eLD95METH: 10-1000 parasites/ml, DNA-RR ≤ 24%). The bead-beating DNA extraction based method is a rapid and simple approach to sensitively detect the three protozoa in mussels using tissues, that can be standardized to different food matrices. However, quantification in mussels remains an issue.
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Zgouridou A, Tripidaki E, Giantsis IA, Theodorou JA, Kalaitzidou M, Raitsos DE, Lattos A, Mavropoulou AM, Sofianos S, Karagiannis D, Chaligiannis I, Anestis A, Papadakis N, Feidantsis K, Mintza D, Staikou A, Michaelidis B. The current situation and potential effects of climate change on the microbial load of marine bivalves of the Greek coastlines: an integrative review. Environ Microbiol 2021; 24:1012-1034. [PMID: 34499795 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Global warming affects the aquatic ecosystems, accelerating pathogenic microorganisms' and toxic microalgae's growth and spread in marine habitats, and in bivalve molluscs. New parasite invasions are directly linked to oceanic warming. Consumption of pathogen-infected molluscs impacts human health at different rates, depending, inter alia, on the bacteria taxa. It is therefore necessary to monitor microbiological and chemical contamination of food. Many global cases of poisoning from bivalve consumption can be traced back to Mediterranean regions. This article aims to examine the marine bivalve's infestation rate within the scope of climate change, as well as to evaluate the risk posed by climate change to bivalve welfare and public health. Biological and climatic data literature review was performed from international scientific sources, Greek authorities and State organizations. Focusing on Greek aquaculture and bivalve fisheries, high-risk index pathogenic parasites and microalgae were observed during summer months, particularly in Thermaikos Gulf. Considering the climate models that predict further temperature increases, it seems that marine organisms will be subjected in the long term to higher temperatures. Due to the positive linkage between temperature and microbial load, the marine areas most affected by this phenomenon are characterized as 'high risk' for consumer health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aikaterini Zgouridou
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Greece
| | - Eirini Tripidaki
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Greece
| | - Ioannis A Giantsis
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Western Macedonia, Florina, 53100, Greece
| | - John A Theodorou
- Department Animal Production Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Patras, Messolonghi, Greece
| | - Maria Kalaitzidou
- National Reference Laboratory for Marine Biotoxins, Department of Food Microbiology, Biochemical Control, Residues, Marine Biotoxins and Other Water Toxins, Directorate of Veterinary Center of Thessaloniki, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dionysios E Raitsos
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Lattos
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Greece
| | - Apostolia-Maria Mavropoulou
- Department of Physics, Section of Environmental Physics and Meteorology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sarantis Sofianos
- Department of Physics, Section of Environmental Physics and Meteorology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Karagiannis
- National Reference Laboratory for Mollusc Diseases, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Thessaloniki, 54627, Greece
| | - Ilias Chaligiannis
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Greece.,Hellenic Agricultural Organisation-DEMETER, Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki, Campus of Thermi, 570 01, Thermi, Greece
| | - Andreas Anestis
- Laboratory of Hygiene, Social - Preventive Medicine and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikos Papadakis
- Laboratory of Hygiene, Social - Preventive Medicine and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Feidantsis
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Greece
| | - Dionysia Mintza
- Department of Fishery Products, Milk and Other Food of Animal Origin, Ministry of Rural Development and Food of Greece, Athens, Greece
| | - Alexandra Staikou
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Greece
| | - Basile Michaelidis
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Greece
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Moratal S, Dea-Ayuela MA, Cardells J, Marco-Hirs NM, Puigcercós S, Lizana V, López-Ramon J. Potential Risk of Three Zoonotic Protozoa ( Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Toxoplasma gondii) Transmission from Fish Consumption. Foods 2020; 9:E1913. [PMID: 33371396 PMCID: PMC7767443 DOI: 10.3390/foods9121913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, worldwide fish consumption has increased notably worldwide. Despite the health benefits of fish consumption, it also can suppose a risk because of fishborne diseases, including parasitic infections. Global changes are leading to the emergence of parasites in new locations and to the appearance of new sources of transmission. That is the case of the zoonotic protozoa Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Toxoplasma gondii; all of them reach aquatic environments and have been found in shellfish. Similarly, these protozoa can be present in other aquatic animals, such as fish. The present review gives an overview on these three zoonotic protozoa in order to understand their potential presence in fish and to comprehensively revise all the evidences of fish as a new potential source of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Toxoplasma gondii transmission. All of them have been found in both marine and freshwater fishes. Until now, it has not been possible to demonstrate that fish are natural hosts for these protozoa; otherwise, they would merely act as mechanical transporters. Nevertheless, even if fish only accumulate and transport these protozoa, they could be a "new" source of infection for people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Moratal
- Servicio de Análisis, Investigación y Gestión de Animales Silvestres (SAIGAS), Veterinary Faculty, Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera, Tirant lo Blanc St 7, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (J.C.); (N.M.M.-H.); (S.P.); (V.L.); (J.L.-R.)
| | - M. Auxiliadora Dea-Ayuela
- Farmacy Department, Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera, Santiago Ramón y Cajal St, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jesús Cardells
- Servicio de Análisis, Investigación y Gestión de Animales Silvestres (SAIGAS), Veterinary Faculty, Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera, Tirant lo Blanc St 7, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (J.C.); (N.M.M.-H.); (S.P.); (V.L.); (J.L.-R.)
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Travessera dels Turons, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Naima M. Marco-Hirs
- Servicio de Análisis, Investigación y Gestión de Animales Silvestres (SAIGAS), Veterinary Faculty, Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera, Tirant lo Blanc St 7, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (J.C.); (N.M.M.-H.); (S.P.); (V.L.); (J.L.-R.)
| | - Silvia Puigcercós
- Servicio de Análisis, Investigación y Gestión de Animales Silvestres (SAIGAS), Veterinary Faculty, Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera, Tirant lo Blanc St 7, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (J.C.); (N.M.M.-H.); (S.P.); (V.L.); (J.L.-R.)
| | - Víctor Lizana
- Servicio de Análisis, Investigación y Gestión de Animales Silvestres (SAIGAS), Veterinary Faculty, Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera, Tirant lo Blanc St 7, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (J.C.); (N.M.M.-H.); (S.P.); (V.L.); (J.L.-R.)
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Travessera dels Turons, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi López-Ramon
- Servicio de Análisis, Investigación y Gestión de Animales Silvestres (SAIGAS), Veterinary Faculty, Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera, Tirant lo Blanc St 7, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain; (S.M.); (J.C.); (N.M.M.-H.); (S.P.); (V.L.); (J.L.-R.)
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Ligda P, Claerebout E, Kostopoulou D, Zdragas A, Casaert S, Robertson LJ, Sotiraki S. Cryptosporidium and Giardia in surface water and drinking water: Animal sources and towards the use of a machine-learning approach as a tool for predicting contamination. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 264:114766. [PMID: 32417583 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium and Giardia are important parasites due to their zoonotic potential and impact on human health, often causing waterborne outbreaks of disease. Detection of (oo)cysts in water matrices is challenging and few countries have legislated water monitoring for their presence. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and origin of these parasites in different water sources in Northern Greece and identify interactions between biotic/abiotic factors in order to develop risk-assessment models. During a 2-year period, using a longitudinal, repeated sampling approach, 12 locations in 4 rivers, irrigation canals, and a water production company, were monitored for Cryptosporidium and Giardia, using standard methods. Furthermore, 254 faecal samples from animals were collected from 15 cattle and 12 sheep farms located near the water sampling points and screened for both parasites, in order to estimate their potential contribution to water contamination. River water samples were frequently contaminated with Cryptosporidium (47.1%) and Giardia (66.2%), with higher contamination rates during winter and spring. During a 5-month period, (oo)cysts were detected in drinking-water (<1/litre). Animals on all farms were infected by both parasites, with 16.7% of calves and 17.2% of lambs excreting Cryptosporidium oocysts and 41.3% of calves and 43.1% of lambs excreting Giardia cysts. The most prevalent species identified in both water and animal samples were C. parvum and G. duodenalis assemblage AII. The presence of G. duodenalis assemblage AII in drinking water and C. parvum IIaA15G2R1 in surface water highlights the potential risk of waterborne infection. No correlation was found between (oo)cyst counts and faecal-indicator bacteria. Machine-learning models that can predict contamination intensity with Cryptosporidium (75% accuracy) and Giardia (69% accuracy), combining biological, physicochemical and meteorological factors, were developed. Although these prediction accuracies may be insufficient for public health purposes, they could be useful for augmenting and informing risk-based sampling plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Ligda
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium; Laboratory of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization - DEMETER, 57001, Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Edwin Claerebout
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Despoina Kostopoulou
- Laboratory of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization - DEMETER, 57001, Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Antonios Zdragas
- Laboratory of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization - DEMETER, 57001, Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Stijn Casaert
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Lucy J Robertson
- Parasitology, Department of Paraclinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 369 Sentrum, 0102, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Smaragda Sotiraki
- Laboratory of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization - DEMETER, 57001, Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Robertson LJ, Lalle M, Paulsen P. Why we need a European focus on foodborne parasites. Exp Parasitol 2020; 214:107900. [PMID: 32335103 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Foodborne parasites (FBP) are recognized as being a neglected pathogen group, often associated with marginalized or disadvantaged populations, especially those living in regions where water supply or sanitation are inadequate. Nevertheless, we are also increasingly recognising that FBP are not just restricted to such places, and even those that do have a circumscribed endemic area may also travel further in our globalised world; FBP are relevant everywhere, including Europe. Against this background, COST Action Euro-FBP (FA1408) was established and ran for a period of 4 years, addressing a number of different questions related to FBP, particularly in the European setting. In this special issue (SI), some of the issues and outputs associated with Euro-FBP are considered in greater depth, as an output also of the final Euro-FBP meeting. As well as more general issues regarding, for example, globalization and climate change, use of economic models, and the value of risk-based surveillance that puts the topic in perspective, individual articles are included that address specific parasites. These include protozoan parasites, such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Toxoplasma, as contaminants of water, shellfish, and fresh produce, fishborne parasites such as Anisakid nematodes, and meatborne parasites, such as Trichinella. Some of the works provide specific data on occurrence or outbreaks, whilst others are concerned with techniques. In addition, implementation of some of the educational and collaborative tools that are unique to COST Actions are described. COST Actions are not generally intended to deliver a scientific endpoint, and Euro-FBP does not do so. However, the articles in this SI, along with other articles published elsewhere during and subsequent to the course of the Action, as direct outputs of the Euro-FBP activities, indicate that FBP are indeed a relevant topic for European scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy J Robertson
- Parasitology, Department of Paraclinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Adamstuen Campus, Ullevålsveien 72, 0454, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Marco Lalle
- Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases Unit, European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Peter Paulsen
- Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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