Biological risks associated with consumption of reptile products

摘要: The consumption of a wide variety species reptiles caught from the wild has been an important source protein for humans world-wide millennia. Terrapins, snakes, lizards, crocodiles and iguanas are now farmed trade their meat other edible products have recently increased in some areas world. Biological risks associated with both reptile eggs include infections caused by bacteria (Salmonella spp., Vibrio spp.), parasites (Spirometra, Trichinella, Gnathostoma, pentastomids), as well intoxications biotoxins. For crocodiles, Salmonella spp. constitute significant public health risk due to high intestinal carrier rate which is reflected equally contamination fresh frozen meat. There lack information about presence reptilians, though captive used pets (lizards or turtles) frequently carriers these Europe. Parasitic protozoa represent negligible compared parasitic metazoans, trichinellosis, pentastomiasis, gnathostomiasis sparganosis can be acquired through contaminated crocodile, monitor lizard, turtle snake meat, respectively. Other reptiles, although found harbour above parasites, not implicated transmission humans. Freezing treatment inactivates Spirometra Trichinella crocodile while effectiveness freezing reptilian unknown. Biotoxins that accumulate flesh sea turtles may cause chelonitoxism, type food poisoning mortality Infections fungi, including yeasts, viruses widely occur but linked human Currently there no indications natural transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) reptilians. feeding non-processed recycled animal likely increase occurrence biological hazards Application GHP, GMP HACCP procedures, respectively at farm slaughterhouse level, crucial controlling hazards.