Title: Report of the FAO Expert Workshop on the Application of Biosecurity Measures to Control Salmonella Contamination in Sustainable Aquaculture, Mangalore, India, 19-21 January 2010
Description: This document contains the report of the FAO Expert Workshop on the "Application of Biosecurity Measures to Control Salmonella Contamination in Sustainable Aquaculture" held in Mangalore, India from 19 to 21 January 2010. The experts reviewed the current scientific evidence regarding the pathogen Salmonella enterica, its occurrence and survival in aquatic environment, possible pathways of contamination of aquaculture systems, serovars found in seafood and salmonellosis associated with fish and fishery products. The experts agreed that although Salmonella is a major foodborne pathogen, products of aquaculture are rarely involved in outbreaks of salmonellosis and the serovars which have been reported in products of aquaculture are rarely reported in cases of human salmonellosis in fish importing countries. The experts recognized that there are a variety of pathways reported as to how Salmonella can enter the aquaculture environment ranging from wild animals, domestic stock, poor sanitation and inappropriate disposal of human and animal wastes. Control of such pathways poses major challenges such as land runoff during rains, control of wild animals in the farm environment. There was agreement that very low level prevalence of Salmonella can be seen in products from aquaculture systems in developed countries but this has not led to any particular public health problem in these countries. The experts agreed that good hygienic practices during aquaculture production and biosecurity measures can minimize but not eliminate Salmonella in products of aquaculture. Biosecurity and control measures that would be useful in minimizing the risk of Salmonella contamination of aquaculture products were identified. The experts identified data gaps and made a series of recommendations to the national governments, national competent authorities, aquaculture industry and FAO.
Subjects: Sustainable aquaculture, Congresses, Sanitation, Salmonella food poisoning, Prevention, Biosecurity