A Comprehensive Review for the Surveillance of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in Shellfish

Area of Science:

• Food safety and microbiology
• Public health and epidemiology
• Marine biology and aquaculture

Background:

• Bivalve molluscan shellfish are a long-standing food source with a history of human consumption.
• As filter feeders, shellfish can bioaccumulate microorganisms from coastal waters, posing public health risks.
• Despite existing regulations, microbiological contamination in shellfish continues to cause human illness outbreaks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diversity of bacterial and enteric viral pathogens found in bivalve shellfish.
• To critically assess current methods for detecting microbial contamination and discuss their limitations.
• To explore the potential of genomic technologies for anticipating emerging pathogens in shellfish.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on microbial contamination in bivalve shellfish.
• Analysis of reported human outbreaks linked to shellfish consumption.
• Discussion of traditional detection methods versus advanced genomic approaches.

Main Results:

• Shellfish harbor a diverse range of bacteria and enteric viruses, including emerging pathogens.
• Current detection methods have limitations in fully assessing microbial risks.
• Genomic technologies offer promising advancements for pathogen identification and surveillance.

Conclusions:

• Further research and method development are essential for effective microbial safety surveillance of shellfish.
• Genomic approaches are key to improving risk assessment and protecting consumers.
• Enhancing the microbial safety of bivalve shellfish is critical for maintaining their status as a healthy food.