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Conway A, Jaiswal S, Jaiswal AK. The Potential of Edible Insects as a Safe, Palatable, and Sustainable Food Source in the European Union. Foods 2024; 13:387. [PMID: 38338521 PMCID: PMC10855650 DOI: 10.3390/foods13030387] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Entomophagy describes the practice of eating insects. Insects are considered extremely nutritious in many countries worldwide. However, there is a lethargic uptake of this practice in Europe where consuming insects and insect-based foodstuffs is often regarded with disgust. Such perceptions and concerns are often due to a lack of exposure to and availability of food-grade insects as a food source and are often driven by neophobia and cultural norms. In recent years, due to accelerating climate change, an urgency to develop alternate safe and sustainable food-sources has emerged. There are currently over 2000 species of insects approved by the World Health Organization as safe to eat and suitable for human consumption. This review article provides an updated overview of the potential of edible insects as a safe, palatable, and sustainable food source. Furthermore, legislation, food safety issues, and the nutritional composition of invertebrates including, but not limited, to crickets (Orthoptera) and mealworms (Coleoptera) are also explored within this review. This article also discusses insect farming methods and the potential upscaling of the industry with regard to future prospects for insects as a sustainable food source. Finally, the topics addressed in this article are areas of potential concern to current and future consumers of edible insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Conway
- School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Faculty of Sciences and Health, Technological University Dublin—City Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 ADY7, Ireland; (A.C.); (S.J.)
- Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute, Technological University Dublin—City Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 H6K8, Ireland
| | - Swarna Jaiswal
- School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Faculty of Sciences and Health, Technological University Dublin—City Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 ADY7, Ireland; (A.C.); (S.J.)
- Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute, Technological University Dublin—City Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 H6K8, Ireland
| | - Amit K. Jaiswal
- School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Faculty of Sciences and Health, Technological University Dublin—City Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 ADY7, Ireland; (A.C.); (S.J.)
- Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute, Technological University Dublin—City Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 H6K8, Ireland
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Soto P, Bravo-Risi F, Kramm C, Gamez N, Benavente R, Bonilla DL, Reed JH, Lockwood M, Spraker TR, Nichols T, Morales R. Nasal bots carry relevant titers of CWD prions in naturally infected white-tailed deer. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:334-350. [PMID: 38191872 PMCID: PMC10883265 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-023-00003-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease affecting farmed and free-ranging cervids. CWD is rapidly expanding across North America and its mechanisms of transmission are not completely understood. Considering that cervids are commonly afflicted by nasal bot flies, we tested the potential of these parasites to transmit CWD. Parasites collected from naturally infected white-tailed deer were evaluated for their prion content using the protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) technology and bioassays. Here, we describe PMCA seeding activity in nasal bot larvae collected from naturally infected, nonclinical deer. These parasites efficiently infect CWD-susceptible mice in ways suggestive of high infectivity titers. To further mimic environmental transmission, bot larvae homogenates were mixed with soils, and plants were grown on them. We show that both soils and plants exposed to CWD-infected bot homogenates displayed seeding activity by PMCA. This is the first report describing prion infectivity in a naturally occurring deer parasite. Our data also demonstrate that CWD prions contained in nasal bots interact with environmental components and may be relevant for disease transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Soto
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Centro Integrativo de Biologia y Quimica Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisca Bravo-Risi
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Centro Integrativo de Biologia y Quimica Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Kramm
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nazaret Gamez
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rebeca Benavente
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Denise L Bonilla
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - J Hunter Reed
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Kerrville, TX, USA
| | | | - Terry R Spraker
- Colorado State University Diagnostic Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Tracy Nichols
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Rodrigo Morales
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
- Centro Integrativo de Biologia y Quimica Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago, Chile.
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Rolandsen CM, Madslien K, Ytrehus B, Hamnes IS, Solberg EJ, Mysterud A, Vikøren T, Våge J, Hanssen O, Miller AL. Distribution, prevalence and intensity of moose nose bot fly ( Cephenemyia ulrichii) larvae in moose ( Alces alces) from Norway. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2021; 15:120-126. [PMID: 33996444 PMCID: PMC8105593 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
High host density combined with climate change may lead to invasion of harmful parasites in cervid (host) populations. Bot flies (Diptera: Oestridae) are a group of ectoparasites that may have strong impact on their hosts, but data on the current distribution, prevalence and intensity of the moose nose bot fly (Cephenemyia ulrichii) in Scandinavia are lacking. We estimated prevalence and intensity of nose bot fly larvae in 30 moose from southern and 79 moose from central Norway. All larvae detected were identified as the moose nose bot fly. We found surprisingly high prevalence in these areas, which are up to 1300 km south-southwest of the first published location in Norway and west of the distribution in Sweden. Prevalence (0.44-1.00) was higher in areas with higher moose density. Parasite intensity in hunter killed moose was higher in central Norway (mean 5.7) than southern Norway (mean 2.9), and in both regions higher in calves and yearlings than adults. Fallen moose had higher parasite intensity (mean 9.8) compared to hunter killed moose in the subsample from central Norway, suggesting a link to host condition or behavior. Our study provides evidence of parasite range expansion, and establishing monitoring appears urgent to better understand impact on host populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christer M Rolandsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), PO Box 5685 Sluppen, NO-7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Knut Madslien
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, NO-0106, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bjørnar Ytrehus
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), PO Box 5685 Sluppen, NO-7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Inger Sofie Hamnes
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, NO-0106, Oslo, Norway
| | - Erling J Solberg
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), PO Box 5685 Sluppen, NO-7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Atle Mysterud
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - Turid Vikøren
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, NO-0106, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jørn Våge
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, NO-0106, Oslo, Norway
| | - Oddvar Hanssen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), PO Box 5685 Sluppen, NO-7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Andrea L Miller
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), PO Box 5685 Sluppen, NO-7485, Trondheim, Norway
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van der Fels-Klerx HJ, Camenzuli L, Belluco S, Meijer N, Ricci A. Food Safety Issues Related to Uses of Insects for Feeds and Foods. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2018; 17:1172-1183. [DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. J. van der Fels-Klerx
- Dept. of Toxicology and Novel Foods; RIKILT Wageningen Research; Akkermaalsbos 2 NL-6708 WB Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - L. Camenzuli
- Dept. of Toxicology and Novel Foods; RIKILT Wageningen Research; Akkermaalsbos 2 NL-6708 WB Wageningen The Netherlands
- ExxonMobile Petroleum & Chemical; Hermeslaan 2 1831 Machelen Belgium
| | - S. Belluco
- Food Safety Dept., Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie; Via dell'Università; 10 35020 Legnaro (PD) Italy
| | - N. Meijer
- Dept. of Toxicology and Novel Foods; RIKILT Wageningen Research; Akkermaalsbos 2 NL-6708 WB Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - A. Ricci
- Food Safety Dept., Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie; Via dell'Università; 10 35020 Legnaro (PD) Italy
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van Raamsdonk LWD, van der Fels-Klerx HJ, de Jong J. New feed ingredients: the insect opportunity. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2017; 34:1384-1397. [PMID: 28393682 DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2017.1306883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In the framework of sustainability and a circular economy, new ingredients for feed are desired and, to this end, initiatives for implementing such novel ingredients have been started. The initiatives include a range of different sources, of which insects are of particular interest. Within the European Union, generally, a new feed ingredient should comply with legal constraints in terms of 'yes, provided that' its safety commits to a range of legal limits for heavy metals, mycotoxins, pesticides, contaminants, pathogens etc. In the case of animal proteins, however, a second legal framework applies which is based on the principle 'no, unless'. This legislation for eradicating transmissible spongiform encephalopathy consists of prohibitions with a set of derogations applying to specific situations. Insects are currently considered animal proteins. The use of insect proteins is a good case to illustrate this difference between a positive, although restricted, modus and a negative modus for allowing animal proteins. This overview presents aspects in the areas of legislation, feed safety, environmental issues, efficiency and detection of the identity of insects. Use of insects as an extra step in the feed production chain costs extra energy and this results in a higher footprint. A measure for energy conversion should be used to facilitate the comparison between production systems based on cold- versus warm-blooded animals. Added value can be found by applying new commodities for rearing, including but not limited to category 2 animal by-products, catering and household waste including meat, and manure. Furthermore, monitoring of a correct use of insects is one possible approach for label control, traceability and prevention of fraud. The link between legislation and enforcement is strong. A principle called WISE (Witful, Indicative, Societal demands, Enforceable) is launched for governing the relationship between the above-mentioned aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - J de Jong
- a RIKILT Wageningen University and Research , Wageningen , the Netherlands
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Chaudhury MF, Ward GB, Skoda SR, Deng M, Welch JB, McKenna TS. Screwworms, Cochliomyia hominivorax, reared for mass release do not carry and spread foot-and-mouth disease virus and classical swine fever virus. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2008; 8:1-5. [PMID: 20302530 PMCID: PMC3127402 DOI: 10.1673/031.008.6201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Experiments were done to determine if transporting live screwworms Cochliomyia hominivorax Coquerel (Diptera: Calliphoridae) for developing new strains from countries where foot-and-mouth disease and classical swine fever are endemic, to the mass rearing facilities in Mexico and Panama, may introduce these exotic diseases into these countries. Are screwworms capable of harboring and spreading foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and classical swine fever virus (CSFV) when they are grown in virus-inoculated larval rearing medium? In one experiment, screwworm larvae were reared in a FMDV-inoculated artificial medium containing either 0.1 % formaldehyde or antibiotics as an antimicrobial agent. In another experiment, larvae were similarly reared in a CSFV-inoculated artificial medium containing 0.1% formaldehyde. In each experiment, samples of larvae and the rearing media were collected daily until pupation occurred. The presence of FMDV was assayed by observing cytopathic effects on cell cultures and a conventional reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); CSFV was assayed using an avidin-biotin complex assay and a conventional RT-PCR. For media containing antibiotics, FMDV was detected in a larval sample collected on day 1 and in media samples on days 1, 2 and 3. No FMDV was detected from larval and media samples collected on all other days. For media containing formaldehyde, FMDV and CSFV were not detectable in larval or media samples collected on all sampling days. These results indicate that FMDV and CSFV cannot survive in rearing medium containing formaldehyde as an antimicrobial agent. Therefore, insects collected in endemic regions and reared using formaldehyde-containing medium for at least one generation at the collection site should be free of FMDV and CSFV and can be transported safely to a strain development/mass rearing facility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - G. B. Ward
- USDA-APHIS, Veterinary Services, FADDL, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Plum Island, New York
| | - S. R. Skoda
- USDA-ARS, Screwworm Research Unit, Panama City, Panama
| | - M.Y. Deng
- USDA-APHIS, Veterinary Services, FADDL, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Plum Island, New York
| | | | - T. S. McKenna
- USDA-APHIS, Veterinary Services, FADDL, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Plum Island, New York
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Ligios C, Cancedda GM, Margalith I, Santucciu C, Madau L, Maestrale C, Basagni M, Saba M, Heikenwalder M. Intraepithelial and interstitial deposition of pathological prion protein in kidneys of scrapie-affected sheep. PLoS One 2007; 2:e859. [PMID: 17848990 PMCID: PMC1964536 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2007] [Accepted: 08/13/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions have been documented in extra-neuronal and extra-lymphatic tissues of humans and various ruminants affected by Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE). The presence of prion infectivity detected in cervid and ovine blood tempted us to reason that kidney, the organ filtrating blood derived proteins, may accumulate disease associated PrPSc. We collected and screened kidneys of experimentally, naturally scrapie-affected and control sheep for renal deposition of PrPSc from distinct, geographically separated flocks. By performing Western blot, PET blot analysis and immunohistochemistry we found intraepithelial (cortex, medulla and papilla) and occasional interstitial (papilla) deposition of PrPSc in kidneys of scrapie-affected sheep. Interestingly, glomerula lacked detectable signals indicative of PrPSc. PrPSc was also detected in kidneys of subclinical sheep, but to significantly lower degree. Depending on the stage of the disease the incidence of PrPSc in kidney varied from approximately 27% (subclinical) to 73.6% (clinical) in naturally scrapie-affected sheep. Kidneys from flocks without scrapie outbreak were devoid of PrPSc. Here we demonstrate unexpectedly frequent deposition of high levels of PrPSc in ovine kidneys of various flocks. Renal deposition of PrPSc is likely to be a pre-requisite enabling prionuria, a possible co-factor of horizontal prion-transmission in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciriaco Ligios
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: (CL); (MH)
| | | | - Ilan Margalith
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Neuropathology, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Cinzia Santucciu
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Laura Madau
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | | | | | - Mariangela Saba
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Mathias Heikenwalder
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Neuropathology, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: (CL); (MH)
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Seidel B, Thomzig A, Buschmann A, Groschup MH, Peters R, Beekes M, Terytze K. Scrapie Agent (Strain 263K) can transmit disease via the oral route after persistence in soil over years. PLoS One 2007; 2:e435. [PMID: 17502917 PMCID: PMC1855989 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2007] [Accepted: 04/18/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The persistence of infectious biomolecules in soil constitutes a substantial challenge. This holds particularly true with respect to prions, the causative agents of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) such as scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or chronic wasting disease (CWD). Various studies have indicated that prions are able to persist in soil for years without losing their pathogenic activity. Dissemination of prions into the environment can occur from several sources, e.g., infectious placenta or amniotic fluid of sheep. Furthermore, environmental contamination by saliva, excrements or non-sterilized agricultural organic fertilizer is conceivable. Natural transmission of scrapie in the field seems to occur via the alimentary tract in the majority of cases, and scrapie-free sheep flocks can become infected on pastures where outbreaks of scrapie had been observed before. These findings point to a sustained contagion in the environment, and notably the soil. By using outdoor lysimeters, we simulated a contamination of standard soil with hamster-adapted 263K scrapie prions, and analyzed the presence and biological activity of the soil-associated PrPSc and infectivity by Western blotting and hamster bioassay, respectively. Our results showed that 263K scrapie agent can persist in soil at least over 29 months. Strikingly, not only the contaminated soil itself retained high levels of infectivity, as evidenced by oral administration to Syrian hamsters, but also feeding of aqueous soil extracts was able to induce disease in the reporter animals. We could also demonstrate that PrPSc in soil, extracted after 21 months, provides a catalytically active seed in the protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) reaction. PMCA opens therefore a perspective for considerably improving the detectability of prions in soil samples from the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bjoern Seidel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology und Applied Ecology (IME), Schmallenberg, Germany.
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