Parasitological contamination of mussels and oysters

Abstract

The literature on human mussel-borne protozoan and helminthic infections is widely dispersed in epidemiological and parasitological journals. This review is focused on humans as hosts for protozoan, trematode and nematode parasites associated with consumption of mussels. These infections are caused mainly by protozoans transferred as cysts and oocysts or trematodes transferred as cercariae or metacercariae. The main scope of the article covers the following genera: Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Toxoplasma, microsporidia, and Fasciola. Foods regarded until recently as quite exotic are currently becoming increasingly available to consumers. To avoid certain parasitic infections, consumers need to know the risk factors associated with consumption of popular sea foods, such as mussels. The article contains information that may be useful to persons with compromised immune response....