TY - JOUR

T1 - Bovine cysticercosis in the European Union

T2 - Impact and current regulations, and an approach towards risk-based control

AU - Blagojevic, Bojan

AU - Robertson, Lucy J.

AU - Vieira-Pinto, Madalena

AU - Johansen, Maria Vang

AU - Laranjo-González, Minerva

AU - Gabriël, Sarah

PY - 2017/8

Y1 - 2017/8

N2 - Bovine cysticercosis is caused by the larval stage of Taenia saginata and has a global distribution. This zoonosis usually causes only mild disease in humans, but has an important economic impact on the meat sector as bovine carcasses that are found to be infected are either condemned or undergo a costly treatment, which additionally results in a substantial reduction in carcass value. Regulations on control of bovine cysticercosis are in place but, at present, control is mainly based on meat inspection. Implementation of a new, risk-based meat safety assurance system, which will allow visual-only inspection of slaughtered cattle in order to reduce the potential for cross-contamination with bacteria that are of greatest public health risk, is expected in the European Union in the near future. With this system, the detection sensitivity for bovine cysticercosis that is already low with the current meat inspection system, would be expected to decrease further. Alternatives for successful control of bovine cysticercosis are necessary. Some substitution or supplementary measures, such as serological tests or additional incisions out of the slaughter-line, have been proposed, but further research is necessary in order to confirm their sensitivity and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, new methods that can be routinely used should be developed. Preferably, these measures would be validated and in place prior to implementation of the new meat safety assurance system, in a move towards effective, risk-based control of bovine cysticercosis in the European Union.

AB - Bovine cysticercosis is caused by the larval stage of Taenia saginata and has a global distribution. This zoonosis usually causes only mild disease in humans, but has an important economic impact on the meat sector as bovine carcasses that are found to be infected are either condemned or undergo a costly treatment, which additionally results in a substantial reduction in carcass value. Regulations on control of bovine cysticercosis are in place but, at present, control is mainly based on meat inspection. Implementation of a new, risk-based meat safety assurance system, which will allow visual-only inspection of slaughtered cattle in order to reduce the potential for cross-contamination with bacteria that are of greatest public health risk, is expected in the European Union in the near future. With this system, the detection sensitivity for bovine cysticercosis that is already low with the current meat inspection system, would be expected to decrease further. Alternatives for successful control of bovine cysticercosis are necessary. Some substitution or supplementary measures, such as serological tests or additional incisions out of the slaughter-line, have been proposed, but further research is necessary in order to confirm their sensitivity and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, new methods that can be routinely used should be developed. Preferably, these measures would be validated and in place prior to implementation of the new meat safety assurance system, in a move towards effective, risk-based control of bovine cysticercosis in the European Union.

KW - Cysticercosis

KW - Meat inspection

KW - Risk-based control

KW - Taenia saginata

U2 - 10.1016/j.foodcont.2017.02.052

DO - 10.1016/j.foodcont.2017.02.052

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85013836658

VL - 78

SP - 64

EP - 71

JO - Food Control

JF - Food Control

SN - 0956-7135

ER -