Foodborne protozoan parasites in fresh mussels and oysters purchased at retail in Canada.

Int J Food Microbiol

Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada. Electronic address:

Published: August 2023

AI Article Synopsis

  • ! A study across Canada found protozoan parasites, specifically Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and Toxoplasma, in commercial bivalve shellfish like mussels and oysters, posing a potential health risk. * ! Researchers purchased and tested over 380 packages of shellfish from grocery stores, using DNA extraction and microscopy to identify the presence of these parasites. * ! The results showed parasite DNA in a small percentage of samples, with no significant seasonal variation, indicating a persistent risk of infections from consuming raw shellfish. * !

Article 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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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2023.110248DOI Listing

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