Parasitic cysts in wild boars hunted in Central Italy: The sanitary controls in the wild game meats chain

Abstract

Seven hundred sixty-five (765) adult wild boars were examined during the 2016/2017 hunting season for the research of parasites. Post mortem inspection was carried out at the slaughterhouse by the Official Veterinarian on the plucks (heart, tongue, lungs, diaphragm, and liver) of the killed animals presented by hunters. Of these, 0.8% (6/765) were positive for Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.), and 2.6% (20/765) were positive for the metacestode stage of Taenia hydatigena (Cysticercus tenuicollis), while 0.5% (4/765) animals showed a mixed infection (Echinococcus granulosus s.l. and Taenia hydatigena). Sixty-three (63) cystic lesions were found. Of these 25,4% (16/63) were caused by Echinococcus granulosus s.l. and 74,6% (47/63) were caused by Cysticercus tenuicollis. The more involved organs were liver and lungs, in a less extension omentum and diaphragm. Parasitological analyses showed an overall prevalence of 3.9% for metacestodes in the hunted animals examined (Paoletti et al., 2018). Hydatids were molecularly characterized as E. granulosus sensu stricto. Trichinella spp. examination results showed no evidences of parasitic cysts. The products of hunting used for own consumption and direct sale to the final consumer or retailer, according to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, lack of overall control by the Competent Authority. This is a critical point in the food chain of the game meat. The data obtained show the importance of the post mortem inspection and the central role of the Competent Authority to ensure not only the food safety of game meat but also to collect data for extensive epidemiological investigations on live-stocks wildlife settings having a direct impact on public health.

Risk Practices for Occupational Zoonotic Exposure to Tuberculosis in a High-Risk Population in Portugal

“…This practice is considered high-risk, especially when the previous initial examination of the carcasses is not carried out. This risk is associated not only with TB, but also with other foodborne zoonoses [ 14 , 15 ]. However, the manipulation of carcasses of large game without knowledge and individual protection equipment, especially gloves and masks, is an element that increases the risk of TB exposure and secondary infection.…”

Hygiene and biosecurity conditions of initial examination on-spot in Portugal: One step toward game meat safety

“…This risk is greater in those carcasses where a meat inspection is not carried out. Therefore, private consumption of game meat not inspected can be considered one of the and most significant risks to the safety of consuming the large game meat [ 5 , 10 ]. In our work, a median percentage of hunting areas was observed where all hunted animals are not inspected (23%) in slaughterhouses, nor is there an initial examination carried out in the field.…”

“…The lack of hunters’ knowledge and the fact that non-eviscerated carcasses allow for transport mode of cleaner private transport. This is the reason why these two actions are sometimes avoided in the field, thus making self-consumption dangerous [ 10 ]. In recent publications in the Iberian Peninsula, where surveys of hunters were carried out, the tendency toward a large percentage of self-consumption is observed: 86% in a study about large game meat hunters in Portugal [ 15 ] and Spain [ 16 ]; in a similar survey, this value increases to 92.1% in consuming all game hunters, mostly large game consume.…”

“…853/2004, or a trained person or a veterinarian [ 6 ]. Proper training for these operators should be given for them to have sufficient knowledge about hunting diseases to identify the pathological lesions at the scene of an initial examination and to ensure correct hygiene procedures and effective elimination of unfit meat and offal [ 3 , 10 ]. In countries like Portugal, specific rules exist [ 11 ].…”

“…Microbial conditions of the game meat depend on many factors: environmental, carcass handling, and processing. In this measure, operators, primarily hunters and game managers, are responsible for hygiene in the different phases, killing, evisceration, initial examination, and further handling and trading of the carcasses from the collection to the chilling point [ 3 , 10 , 13 ]. This point is also of great importance in terms of food safety and the operator’s health safety of the operator once they know how to mitigate the risk of acquiring zoonotic agents.…”