Billions and billions sold: Pet-feeder crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), commercial cricket farms, an epizootic densovirus, and government regulations make for a potential disaster

Weissman, David B.; Gray, David A.; Pham, Hanh Thi; Tijssen, Peter

doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3504.1.3

Cited by 65 publications

(85 citation statements)

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“…There are no reports of invertebrate iridoviruses and reoviruses in vertebrates. The most frequent infection in crickets is caused by densoviruses (Parvoviridae) (Weissman et al, 2012;Szelei et al, 2011) and by viruses of the order Picornavirales (cricket paralysis virus, Discistroviridae). Since both virus types have close relatives in humans (human parvovirus B19, polio, hepatitis A), the question is whether these viruses can cross the vertebrate/invertebrate border.…”

Section: 12mentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk profile related to production and consumption of insects as food and feed

2015

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The present opinion has the format of a risk profile and presents potential biological and chemical hazards as well as allergenicity and environmental hazards associated with farmed insects used as food and feed taking into account of the entire chain, from farming to the final product. The opinion also addresses the occurrence of these hazards in non-processed insects, grown on different substrate categories, in comparison to the occurrence of these hazards in other non-processed sources of protein of animal origin. When currently allowed feed materials are used as substrate to feed insects, the possible occurrence of microbiological hazards is expected to be comparable to their occurrence in other nonprocessed sources of protein of animal origin. The possible occurrence of prions in non-processed insects will depend on whether the substrate includes protein of human or ruminant origin. Data on transfer of chemical contaminants from different substrates to the insects are very limited. Substrates like kitchen waste, human and animal manure are also considered and hazards from insects fed on these substrates need to be specifically assessed. It is concluded that for both biological and chemical hazards, the specific production methods, the substrate used, the stage of harvest, the insect species and developmental stage, as well as the methods for further processing will all have an impact on the occurrence and levels of biological and chemical contaminants in food and feed products derived from insects. Hazards related to the environment are expected to be comparable to other animal production systems. The opinion also identifies the uncertainties (lack of knowledge) related to possible hazards when insects are used as food and feed and notes that there are no systematically collected data on animal and human consumption of insects. Studies on the occurrence of microbial pathogens of vertebrates as well as published data on hazardous chemicals in reared insects are scarce. Further data generation on these issues are highly recommended. Risk profile related to production and consumption of insects as food and feed EFSA Scientific Committee AbstractThe present opinion has the format of a risk profile and presents potential biological and chemical hazards as well as allergenicity and environmental hazards associated with farmed insects used as food and feed taking into account of the entire chain, from farming to the final product. The opinion also addresses the occurrence of these hazards in non-processed insects, grown on different substrate categories, in comparison to the occurrence of these hazards in other non-processed sources of protein of animal origin. When currently allowed feed materials are used as substrate to feed insects, the possible occurrence of microbiological hazards is expected to be comparable to their occurrence in other non-processed sources of protein of animal origin. The possible occurrence of prions in nonprocessed insects will depend on whether the substrate includes protein ...

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Section: 12mentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk profile related to production and consumption of insects as food and feed

2015

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“…Cricket-breeding facilities in the United States produce billions of pet-feeder crickets annually (1, 2). The preferred house cricket, Acheta domesticus , is highly susceptible to a densovirus, Acheta domesticus densovirus (AdDNV), which has caused severe outbreaks since September 2009 and decimated A. domesticus stocks in North America.…”

Section: Genome Announcementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acheta domesticus Volvovirus, a Novel Single-Stranded Circular DNA Virus of the House Cricket

Pham¹,

Bergoin²,

Tijssen³

2013

Genome Announc

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“…This industry has been devastated by epizootic Acheta domesticus densovirus (AdDNV) outbreaks since 2009 (1). Alternative, presumably virus-resistant, field cricket species have been introduced and led to widespread United States (and European) distribution of exotic Gryllus species, such as the naturally widespread African, European, and Asian “black cricket,” G. bimaculatus , and the previously unknown red cricket, G. locorojo , despite existing United States federal regulations to prevent such movement (2). …”

Section: Genome Announcementmentioning

confidence: 99%