Selection And Application Of Methods For The Detection And Enumeration Of Human Pathogenic Halophilic Vibrio Spp In Seafood

One of the challenges to data collection to inform food safety decision making and monitor the implementation and efficacy of control measures to manage specific food safety is the availability of the appropriate methodology. The development of methods for the isolation and identific of pathogenic Vibrio spp. in seafoods is evolving quickly. This often means that methods become more sensitive and efficient but the cost may also increase. However the pace of development also means that there is not always adequate time to to comprehensively validate a method for a particular purpose. This publication aims to provide guidance on the selection on the most appropriate method to meet a particular purpose and how in a constantly changing environment some local validation work can be undertaken to ensure a method meets the current needs of a regulator, industry or risk assessor.

One of the challenges in the development of global risk assessments for halophilic Vibrio spp. has been the availability of appropriate datasets from around the world which could be considered to be representative of the range of conditions under which halophilic Vibrio spp. grow and become a problem for seafood safety. Even when data are available, the different methodologies used to generate that data often make it difficult to compare and consolidate globally representative datasets. In order to begin addressing this the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene recommended that the range of test methods available for quantifying V. para-haemolyticus (total and pathogenic) and V. vulnificus in seawater and bivalves be looked at with a view to providing guidance that would facilitate performance evaluation of the methods. This document has been developed in response to that request and is intended to provide sufficient information on methods (but not details of the methods) to inform the selection of the most appropriate methods according to the potential end use of the data generated, for example, harvest area monitoring, post-harvest process verification, end product monitoring, and outbreak investigation.

Globally, the Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus represent important human pathogens associated with the consumption of seafood. In response to the requests for scientific advice from Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH), risk assessments for the pathogens V. vulnificus, V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus and guidance on methods for the detection of Vibrio spp. with seafood have been conducted and published previously by JEMRA. In order to provide an update on the state-of-the-art advice regarding risk assessment for V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in seafood, an expert meeting was convened. Several critical developments in the last decade were subsequently noted by the expert working group: 1) The emergence of highly pathogenic strains; 2) In response to climate change, there has been a significant geographical spread regarding when and where these seafood-associated Vibrio infections; 3) Demographic considerations are very important; 4) A range of new approaches for best practice; and 5) A range of new methods, such as those utilising genomics and satellite imagery. This report describes the output of that expert meeting.

The guidelines provide a regional overview of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in aquaculture, including the importance of harmonizing methodologies across the region (Chapter 1). The guidelines also cover approaches to the design of AMR surveillance in aquaculture, from identifying the target population to sampling considerations (Chapter 2). Sample consideration and transport are described in detail, following standing methodologies for disease surveillance in aquaculture (Chapter 3). The laboratory methods are described, from general principles to specific methodologies (Chapter 4). Finally, the guidelines also describe AMR data management including collection, storage, analysis, and presentation (Chapter 5). While Volume 3 provides guidance for carrying out AMR monitoring and surveillance in aquaculture, the other areas in the AMR surveillance framework are covered in the respective volumes of this regional guideline series: Volume 1 (Monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from healthy food animals intended for consumption), Volume 2 (Monitoring and surveillance in animal pathogens recovered from diseased livestock); Volume 4 (Monitoring bacterial resistance in the animal environment) that will focus on monitoring AMR in bacteria from agriculture settings (such as manure and slurry in livestock farms and aquatic environments), Volume 5 (Monitoring antimicrobial usage in animals at the farm level) and Volume 6 (Monitoring antimicrobial residues in food). Experts from FAO, the Singapore Food Agency and the Singapore National Parks Board led the writing of this volume.

Microbiology of Atypical Environments, Volume 45, presents a comprehensive reference text on the microbiological methods used to research the basic biology of microorganism in harsh, stressful and sometimes atypical environments (e.g. arctic ice, space stations, extraterrestrial environments, hot springs and magnetic environments). Chapters in this release include Biofilms in space, Methods for studying the survival of microorganisms in extraterrestrial environments, Persistence of Fungi in Atypical (Closed) Environments Based on Evidence from the International Space Station (ISS): Distribution and Significance to Human health, Methods for visualizing microorganisms in Icy environments, Measuring microbial metabolism at surface-air interfaces and nuclear waste management, amongst others. Contains both established and emerging methods Provides excellent reference lists on the topics covered

Water is used for a wide range of activities in the dairy sector, which consumes a substantial volume of first-use drinking water for production processes, cleaning and disinfection. There is a great potential to exploit possible sources of reusable water in the dairy sector. In 2020, the 43rd session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission approved the new work entitled ¡°Development of Guidelines for the Safe Use and Reuse of Water in Food Production¡± proposed by the 51st session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene. To support this work, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) was asked to provide scientific advice regarding safe use and reuse of water in the dairy sector. JEMRA convened an online meeting from 14 June to 2 July 2021 to provide clear and practical guidance on risk-based approaches to assess and manage fit-for-purpose water sourcing, use and reuse in the dairy sector. This report describes the output of this meeting to support the decision-making when applying the concept of fit-for-purpose water for use in the production and processing of dairy products.

In response to a request from the 52nd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH), the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) convened this meeting, to collate and assess the most recent scientific information relating to the control of non-typhoidal (NT)-Salmonella spp. in chicken meat. The assessment included a review of the Codex Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Chicken Meat (CXG 78-2011). The Campylobacter will be reviewd by another meeting. The expert consultation noted that no single control measure was sufficiently effective in reducing either the prevalence or the level of contamination of broilers and poultry meat with NT-Salmonella spp. Instead, it was emphasized that control strategies based on multiple intervention steps would have the greatest impact on controlling NT-Salmonella spp. in the broiler production chain. This report describes the output of this expert meeting and the advice herein is useful for both risk assessors and risk managers, at national and international levels and those in the food industry working to control the hazard in poultry.