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FINAL REPORT - AQIS CONSULTANCY “ROUTES FOR EXPOSURE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS TO AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION” FINAL REPORT CONSULTANCY ON ROUTES FOR EXPOSURE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS TO AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION MAY 1999 Prepared for the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service by Aquaculture Development and Veterinary Services Pty. Ltd. 329 Allens Rivulet Road, Allens Rivulet, TASMANIA 7150 in association with: Food Factotum Food Microbiology Research Group, University of Tasmania Australian Water Technologies Pty. Ltd. Enviromental Biotek Pty. Ltd. Water Ecoscience Pty. Ltd. River and Sea Pty. Ltd. Page 1 FINAL REPORT - AQIS CONSULTANCY “ROUTES FOR EXPOSURE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS TO AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION” AusVet Animal Health Services Pty. Ltd. Dr. Richard Callinan Page 2 FINAL REPORT - AQIS CONSULTANCY “ROUTES FOR EXPOSURE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS TO AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION” TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................................................................................8 2. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................................13 2.1 BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................................................13 2.2 TERMS OF REFERENCE..............................................................................................................................................17 2.3 PROJECT PERSONNEL................................................................................................................................................17 2.4 METHODOLOGY.........................................................................................................................................................18 2.5 GLOSSARY OF TERMS.................................................................................................................................................20 2.6 ABBREVIATIONS........................................................................................................................................................22 2.7 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...............................................................................................................................................24 3. PATTERNS OF DISTRIBUTION, USAGE AND CONSUMPTION OF SEAFOOD IN AUSTRALIA.............25 3.1 GENERAL.....................................................................................................................................................................25 3.1.1 Australian Seafood Production/Exports/Imports......................................................................................25 3.1.2 Seafood Consumption in Australia..............................................................................................................25 3.2 MAJOR AUSTRALIAN FISHERIES.............................................................................................................................27 3.2.1 Rock Lobster.....................................................................................................................................................28 3.2.2 Abalone.............................................................................................................................................................28 3.2.3 Tuna...................................................................................................................................................................30 3.2.4 Scallops.............................................................................................................................................................32 3.2.5 Pilchards...........................................................................................................................................................32 3.2.6 Shark..................................................................................................................................................................33 3.2.7 Crabs..................................................................................................................................................................33 3.2.8 South East Trawl.............................................................................................................................................33 3.2.9 Other Fisheries.................................................................................................................................................34 3.3 FURTHER SEAFOOD PROCESSING............................................................................................................................34 3.3.1 Canning.............................................................................................................................................................34 3.3.2 Coated Fish Products.....................................................................................................................................34 3.3.3 Surimi.................................................................................................................................................................35 3.3.4 Smoked Fish, Marinades and Other Preserves..........................................................................................35 3.4 IMPORTED SEAFOOD................................................................................................................................................37 3.5 SEASONALITY OF SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION.......................................................................................................37 3.6 BY-PRODUCT UTILISATION.....................................................................................................................................38 3.7 SEAFOOD PACKAGING...............................................................................................................................................40 3.7.1 Bulk Fish Packaging......................................................................................................................................40 3.7.2 Pre-packaged seafood....................................................................................................................................41 4. COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL BAIT.........................................................................................................42 4.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................................................42 4.1.1 Recreational Angling.....................................................................................................................................42 4.1.2 Commercial Fishing........................................................................................................................................43 4.1.3 Bait and Berley................................................................................................................................................43 4.1.4 Trends................................................................................................................................................................45 4.2 THE ROLE OF BAIT AND BERLEY IN THE POTENTIAL EXPOSURE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS TO AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION................................................................................45 4.2.1 General..............................................................................................................................................................45 4.2.2 Seafood Products Used as Bait.....................................................................................................................47 4.3 VOLUMES AND PATHWAYS......................................................................................................................................50 5. WASTE DISPOSAL PATHWAYS..............................................................................................................................55 5.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................................................55 5.2 MUNICIPAL WASTE WATER...................................................................................................................................55 5.2.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................................................55 5.2.2 Primary Treatment...........................................................................................................................................58 Page 3 FINAL REPORT - AQIS CONSULTANCY “ROUTES FOR EXPOSURE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS TO AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION” 5.2.3 Secondary Treatment......................................................................................................................................58 5.2.4 Tertiary Treatment...........................................................................................................................................60 5.2.5 Sludge Stabilisation and Beneficial Reuse................................................................................................62 5.2.6 Effluent Reuse...................................................................................................................................................64 5.2.7 Wet Weather Flows Affecting Treatment and Disinfection.......................................................................65 5.3 INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT........................................................................67 5.4 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT................................................................................................................................69 5.4.1 General..............................................................................................................................................................69 5.4.2 Landfill..............................................................................................................................................................70 5.4.3 Pathogens in Landfill Leachate....................................................................................................................71 5.4.4 Composting and Beneficial Reuse................................................................................................................72 5.5 DISPOSAL OF WASTE OUTSIDE OF TRADITIONAL DISPOSAL ROUTES............................................................72 6. THE ROLE OF BIRDS IN THE TRANSMISSION OF PATHOGENS FROM SEAFOOD WASTE TO AQUATIC ANIMALS.........................................................................................................................................................74 6.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................................................74 6.2 HOW READILY DO BIRDS BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH DISEASE AGENTS................................................74 6.3 THE EFFECT OF BIRD MOVEMENT ON DISEASE TRANSMISSION........................................................................76 6.4 THE VIABILITY OF DISEASE PATHOGENS DURING TRANSIT.............................................................................77 7. FACTORS AFFECTING PATHOGEN SURVIVAL THROUGH PROCESSING, HANDLING AND CONSUMPTION PATHWAYS........................................................................................................................................79 7.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................................................79 7.2 THE ECOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF MICROBES IN FOODS...............................................................................81 7.2.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................................................81 7.2.2 Microbial Death..............................................................................................................................................81 7.2.3 Microbial Stability and Mechanisms of Inactivation...............................................................................83 7.2.3.1 Mechanisms of Inactivation...........................................................................................................................84 7.2.3.2 Temperature...................................................................................................................................................84 7.2.3.3 Freezing/Drying/Reduced Water Activity/Increased Osmotic Potential.......................................................86 7.2.3.4 pH and organic acids......................................................................................................................................87 7.2.3.5 Phosphates.....................................................................................................................................................88 7.2.3.6 Sulphites........................................................................................................................................................88 7.2.4 Relative Effects and Combinations of Factors...........................................................................................89 7.2.5 Microbial survival and limits to growth.....................................................................................................91 7.2.6 Microbial Growth............................................................................................................................................92 7.2.7 Rate of growth..................................................................................................................................................94 7.2.7.1 Temperature...................................................................................................................................................94 7.2.7.2 Water Activity...............................................................................................................................................95 7.2.7.3 pH and Organic Acids....................................................................................................................................97 7.2.7.4 Combined Effects on Growth Rate................................................................................................................98 7.3 SITES OF INFECTION, UNAPPARENT INFECTIONS, AND POTENTIAL FOR CROSS-CONTAMINATION........99 7.3.1 Sites of Infection...............................................................................................................................................99 7.3.2 Unapparent Infection....................................................................................................................................100 7.3.3 Cross-contamination, Transient Carriage...............................................................................................100 7.4 THE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FOOD PROCESSES...............................................................101 7.4.1 Temperature....................................................................................................................................................101 7.4.1.1 Cooking........................................................................................................................................................101 7.4.1.2 Canning........................................................................................................................................................102 7.4.1.3 Chilling and Freezing....................................................................................................................................102 7.4.2 Brining and Salting......................................................................................................................................103 7.4.3 Smoking...........................................................................................................................................................103 7.4.5 Fermented Fish, Fish sauces etc................................................................................................................106 7.4.6 Surimi, Sushi and Minced Fish Products..................................................................................................106 7.4.7 Fish Protein Concentrates...........................................................................................................................106 7.4.8 Caviar..............................................................................................................................................................106 7.4.9 Modified Atmosphere or Vacuum Packaging..........................................................................................107 Page 4 FINAL REPORT - AQIS CONSULTANCY “ROUTES FOR EXPOSURE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS TO AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION” 7.5 TOLERANCE OF AQUATIC ANIMAL PATHOGENS TO FOOD HANDLING AND PROCESSING CONDITIONS ..........................................................................................................................................................................................108 7.5.1 Rates of Inactivation.....................................................................................................................................108 7.5.2 General Physiological Factors and Extent of Resistance.....................................................................108 7.5.3 Viruses.............................................................................................................................................................109 7.5.3.1 Temperature.................................................................................................................................................109 7.5.3.2 pH................................................................................................................................................................111 7.5.3.3 Chemical and Other Disinfectants...............................................................................................................111 7.5.4 Bacteria...........................................................................................................................................................112 7.5.4.1 Temperature.................................................................................................................................................112 7.5.4.2 pH................................................................................................................................................................114 7.5.4.3 Chemical and Other Disinfectants and Processes........................................................................................115 7.5.5 Other Aquatic Animal Pathogens...............................................................................................................115 7.5.5.1 Salt...............................................................................................................................................................116 7.5.5.2 Freezing........................................................................................................................................................116 7.6 PRODUCTS THAT ARE EATEN RAW, AND EFFECTS OF PASSAGE THROUGH THE HUMAN GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT........................................................................................................................................117 7.6.1 The human gastro-intestinal tract..............................................................................................................117 7.6.2 Survival of microorganisms through the GIT...........................................................................................118 7.6.3 Potential for increased risk by passage through the gastro-intestinal tract.....................................119 7.7 SPOILAGE AND DISPOSAL OF SPOILED PRODUCT AND WASTE.....................................................................120 8. FACTORS AFFECTING SURVIVAL OF PATHOGENS IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT................123 8.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................................123 8.2 GROWTH....................................................................................................................................................................123 8.2.1 Bacteria...........................................................................................................................................................123 8.2.2 Viruses.............................................................................................................................................................124 8.3 SURVIVAL MECHANISMS........................................................................................................................................124 8.3.1 Starvation-survival.......................................................................................................................................124 8.3.2 Viable But Non-Culturable Phenomenon (VBNC).................................................................................125 8.3.3 Attachment to Surfaces and Biofilms.........................................................................................................126 8.3.4 Ingestion by Protozoans and Crustaceans...............................................................................................126 8.3.5 Protozoans: Intermediate Hosts..................................................................................................................127 8.4 DEATH:— CAUSES...................................................................................................................................................127 8.4.1 Bacteria...........................................................................................................................................................127 8.5 GENE TRANSFER.......................................................................................................................................................128 9. ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIVE RISKS POSED BY VARIOUS POTENTIAL PATHWAYS WHEREBY IMPORTED PRODUCT INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTON MAY ENTER THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT................................................................................................................................................................130 10. CASE STUDIES...........................................................................................................................................................139 10.1 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................................139 10.2 CASE STUDY 1 - THE USE OF FRESH, FROZEN OR CHILLED ATLANTIC SALMON IN THE HUON & DERWENT ESTUARINE REGION OF TASMANIA........................................................................................................140 10.2.1 Salmonid Production in Australia...........................................................................................................140 10.2.2 Imported Salmonids....................................................................................................................................140 10.2.3 Location of Case Study..............................................................................................................................141 10.2.4 Patterns of Distribution, Usage and Consumption of Salmonid Products in the Derwent/Huon Estuarine Region of Tasmania..............................................................................................................................141 10.2.4.1 Commercial Salmonid Fishery...................................................................................................................141 10.2.4.2 Salmonid Aquaculture................................................................................................................................141 10.2.4.3 Processing and Distribution.......................................................................................................................142 10.2.4.4 Packaging....................................................................................................................................................144 10.2.4.5 Use of Salmonid Product as Bait...............................................................................................................146 10.2.5 Recreation and Tourism.............................................................................................................................147 10.2.6 Wild salmonid populations.......................................................................................................................147 10.2.7 Waste Disposal Pathways..........................................................................................................................147 Page 5 FINAL REPORT - AQIS CONSULTANCY “ROUTES FOR EXPOSURE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS TO AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION” 10.2.7.1 Wastewater Treatment...............................................................................................................................147 10.2.7.2 Municipal Wastewater Treatment.............................................................................................................147 10.2.7.3 Industrial and Commercial Wastewater Treatment....................................................................................148 10.2.7.4 Solid Waste Management...........................................................................................................................149 10.2.8 Examination of the Potential for Exotic Pathogens in Imported Salmonid Products to Enter the Aquatic Environment in the Derwent/Huon Estuary Region..........................................................................158 10.3 CASE STUDY 2 - THE USE OF GREEN PRAWNS IN THE MORETON BAY REGION OF QUEENSLAND.........161 10.3.1 Prawn Production in Australia...............................................................................................................161 10.3.2 Imported Prawns........................................................................................................................................162 10.3.3 Distribution Patterns in Australia..........................................................................................................163 10.3.4 Location of Case Study..............................................................................................................................166 10.3.5 Patterns of Distribution, Usage and Consumption of Prawn Products in the Moreton Bay Region of South East Queensland......................................................................................................................................166 10.3.5.1 Commercial Prawn Fishery in Moreton Bay............................................................................................166 10.3.5.2 Prawn Aquaculture...................................................................................................................................168 10.3.5.3 Processing and Distribution......................................................................................................................169 10.3.5.4 Packaging....................................................................................................................................................170 10.3.5.5 Use of Prawns as Bait................................................................................................................................171 10.3.6 Recreation and Tourism.............................................................................................................................171 10.3.7 Wild Prawn Populations............................................................................................................................172 10.3.8 Waste Disposal Pathways..........................................................................................................................172 10.3.8.1 Wastewater Treatment...............................................................................................................................172 10.3.8.2 Municipal Wastewater Treatment.............................................................................................................172 10.3.8.3 Industrial and Commercial Wastewater Treatment....................................................................................173 10.3.8.4 Solid Waste Management...........................................................................................................................173 10.3.9 Examination of the Potential for Exotic Pathogens in Imported Prawn Products to Enter the Aquatic Environment in the Moreton Bay Region............................................................................................182 10.4 CASE STUDY 3 – THE USE OF OYSTERS IN THE SHELL IN THE GEORGES RIVER REGION OF SYDNEY..185 10.4.1 Oyster Production in Australia................................................................................................................185 10.4.2 Imported Oysters.........................................................................................................................................185 10.4.3 Distribution Patterns in Australia...........................................................................................................186 10.4.4 Location of Case Study..............................................................................................................................188 10.4.5 Distribution, Usage and Consumption of Oysters in the Shell in the Georges River Region of Sydney........................................................................................................................................................................188 10.4.5.1 Commercial Wild Oyster Fishery..............................................................................................................188 10.4.5.2 Oyster Aquaculture...................................................................................................................................188 10.4.5.3 Processing and Distribution......................................................................................................................189 10.4.5.4 Packaging....................................................................................................................................................190 10.4.5.5 Use of Oysters as Bait...............................................................................................................................191 10.4.6 Recreation and Tourism.............................................................................................................................191 10.4.7 Wild Oyster Populations............................................................................................................................191 10.4.8 Waste Disposal Pathways..........................................................................................................................191 10.4.8.1 Wastewater Treatment...............................................................................................................................191 10.4.8.2 Municipal Wastewater Treatment.............................................................................................................191 10.4.8.3 Industrial and Commercial Wastewater Treatment....................................................................................192 10.4.8.4 Solid Waste Management...........................................................................................................................192 10.4.9 Examination of the Potential for Exotic Pathogens in Imported Oysters In The Shell to Enter the Aquatic Environment in the Georges River Region..........................................................................................199 10.5 CASE STUDY 4 - THE USE OF SALMONID PRODUCTS IN THE LAKE EILDON REGION OF VICTORIA.......201 10.5.1 Location of Case Study..............................................................................................................................201 10.5.2 Patterns of Distribution, Usage and Consumption of Salmonid Products in the Lake Eildon Region of Victoria...................................................................................................................................................201 10.5.2.1 Commercial Salmonid Fishery...................................................................................................................201 10.5.2.2 Salmonid Aquaculture................................................................................................................................201 10.5.2.3 Processing and Distribution.......................................................................................................................202 10.5.2.4 Packaging....................................................................................................................................................203 10.5.2.5 Use of Salmonids as Bait...........................................................................................................................203 10.5.3 Recreation & Tourism................................................................................................................................204 Page 6 FINAL REPORT - AQIS CONSULTANCY “ROUTES FOR EXPOSURE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS TO AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION” 10.5.4 Wild Salmonid Populations......................................................................................................................204 10.5.5 Waste Disposal Pathways..........................................................................................................................204 10.5.5.1 Wastewater Treatment...............................................................................................................................204 10.5.5.2 Municipal Wastewater Treatment.............................................................................................................205 10.5.5.3 Commercial and Recreational Wastewater Treatment...............................................................................206 10.5.5.4 Solid Waste Management...........................................................................................................................207 10.5.6 Examination of the Potential for Exotic Pathogens in Imported Salmonid Products to Enter the Aquatic Environment in the Lake Eildon Region of Victoria.........................................................................211 11. REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................................213 Page 7 FINAL REPORT - AQIS CONSULTANCY “ROUTES FOR EXPOSURE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS TO AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION” 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Report of the National Task Force on Imported Fish Products (1996) identified potential pathways whereby exotic aquatic animal pathogens might be introduced into the Australian aquatic environment via imported seafood products intended for human consumption. As no relative risk was ascribed to these pathways, a more detailed investigation of potential pathways and assessment of the relative risks* posed by them has been undertaken. * Unless otherwise stated the term “risk” in the context of this report is deemed to mean – the probability that an aquatic animal pathogen in a seafood import intended for human consumption or its by-products will enter the Australian aquatic environment while still viable. The mere existence of a pathway, or potential for viable exotic pathogens to enter an aquatic environment does not by itself mean an existing or proposed import should be prohibited. The information presented in this report forms only one component of a number of issues relevant to quarantine risk analysis. Some of the other factors considered, include: • characteristics of the pathogen of concern (e.g. heat tolerance, spore formation etc.) • initial degree of product contamination with pathogens • import volume • probability of pathogen establishment in Australian aquatic species (e.g. infective dose, pathogen survival in the aquatic environment etc.) • consequences of disease establishment Imported and locally produced aquatic animal products cover a diverse range of aquatic animal species and product forms. Woolworths supermarkets alone report over 1,000 lines of seafood sold in their stores. As with processing of other animal products, processing of aquatic animals can generate significant quantities of wastes which may be commercially utilised or disposed. The edible portion of most aquatic animals comprises less than 50% by weight of the whole animal. An FRDC study in 1990/91 found that 94.6% of Australian householders eat seafood, with per capita seafood consumption being 12.06 kg (edible weight) per annum. Australian fisheries’ production (wild and farmed) in 1996/97 was 210,000 tonnes (whole fish) of which 51,000 tonnes was exported (ie. 159,000 tonnes used locally). Seafood imports totalled 121,000 tonnes, a proportion of which was already partly processed. Once processing losses are accounted for, these figures show that as much, or more imported seafood is consumed in Australia than locally produced seafood. Seafood imports include fish fillets, whole fish, canned fish, prawns, “calamari, squid and octopus”, mussels and oysters. Page 8 FINAL REPORT - AQIS CONSULTANCY “ROUTES FOR EXPOSURE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS TO AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION” It is recognised that the volumes and types of seafood imported can be dynamic, for example due to changing market forces or quarantine regulations, and during periods of high demand such as Christmas and Lent. Close to 5 million Australians currently fish recreationally at least once each year, while in 1990, some 14,000 people were employed full-time by the catching sector of the commercial fishing industry. A significant quantity of the bait and berley used by fishermen is derived from products primarily intended for human consumption. Recreational anglers, and to a lesser extent commercial fishers will sometimes purchase bait and/or berley supplies directly from sources intended for human consumption, particularly when they are seeking premium or specialist baits not normally available from traditional bait suppliers (e.g. large, fresh or frozen green prawns, fresh squid and octopi, cuttlefish, various shellfish, whole and cut/processed fin fish). In other cases, aquatic animal products (or parts thereof) intended for human consumption are used as bait because they are no longer deemed suitable for human consumption (e.g. processing waste and spoiled products). At all stages during distribution, handling and processing of seafood products, waste is generated which may contain viable pathogens. This waste may comprise liquid (e.g. wash water) and/or solid components (e.g. heads, viscera, skin, trimmings, shell, packaging etc.). Wastewater treatment is categorised primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary treatment essentially removes particulate materials and microorganisms attached to them. In general this results in a 90% reduction of bacterial numbers, but has less impact on the number of viruses and protozoan parasites. Significantly, the high organic matter content of primary treated waste often attracts aquatic animals to points of discharge (e.g. ocean outfalls). Secondary wastewater treatment reduces the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids loading by about 90%. 5 Tertiary treatment further reduces suspended solids. Predictably, the level of pathogen loading in wastewater decreases with each treatment step. The probability of tertiary treated wastewater containing viable pathogens is very low. However such assurity is not possible with lesser treatment regimes. Most solid wastes result from seafood processing (e.g. frames, gills, guts or shells) or from wastewater treatment processes. Where this material is moved to properly designed and controlled sanitary landfills the risk posed is extremely low. In other cases, however, the risks are more significant. Potential pathways for seafood waste to enter the aquatic environment, usually directly, include use as bait and disposal from tourist operations (e.g. houseboats, boat cruises, yachts) where seafood is often consumed on board. Commonly, feeding of fish or birds with seafood wastes is a feature of the tourist attraction. Similar pathways exist from shoreline activities such as picnics and Page 9 FINAL REPORT - AQIS CONSULTANCY “ROUTES FOR EXPOSURE OF AQUATIC ANIMALS TO AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION” barbecues. Organic wastes are also sometimes released offshore from seaside resorts (e.g. Barrier Reef island resorts). Some bird species are common scavengers at recreational sites (e.g. picnic and camping grounds) and at dumping or landfill sites, and therefore have potential to act as mechanical vectors of some aquatic animal pathogens. For establishment of disease to occur, viable exotic pathogens must reach a waterway. Their capacity to do this in imported seafood products depends on the numbers initially present, the potential for increase or inactivation, and the subsequent handling, treatment and pathway of disposal. The probability of pathogen release from seafoods processed, prepared and consumed as expected is very low as they would be required to survive any processing treatments as well as the gastrointestinal tract and then some effluent treatment process before reaching aquatic environments. Only the most resistant organisms are likely to survive these routes. Rather, it is the volume of inadequately cooked or unprocessed product that bypasses these pathways that presents a greater risk and represents the greatest probability of introduction of exotic aquatic animal pathogens by the food for human consumption route. If aquatic animal pathogens in seafood product reach an aquatic environment they may grow (in number and biomass), simply survive, or die in that environment. Obligate pathogens require a suitable host for multiplication. The major factors governing growth of opportunistic pathogens are nutrient availability and temperature, but also include appropriate pH, oxygen concentrations, salinity and trace elements. Some aquatic bacteria have survival mechanisms such as “starvation- survival” or “viable but not culturable” (VBNC) which are activated in suboptimal conditions and allow survival until a more favourable environment is re-established. Protozoan cyst and spore life cycle stages are also protective and provide a survival mechanism if they are released into the environment. Crustaceans and protozoa can also act as non-host vectors for certain pathogens, thereby increasing the opportunity for them to find new hosts. Recently there has been a great increase in knowledge of gene transfer mechanisms, whereby pathogens themselves may not survive and establish in a new environment, but they may transfer genes for virulence to new host microbes making them pathogenic. Case studies on the potential pathways for exotic pathogen release from salmonid products in the Huon and Derwent estuarine region of Tasmania and Lake Eildon region of Victoria, oysters in the shell in the Georges River region of Sydney and green prawns in the Moreton Bay region of Queensland revealed many common themes in terms of risk. However, the case studies also demonstrated important differences between the seafood products studied. For example, prawns, which are a favoured bait, are much more likely to be diverted for use as bait than oysters which are rarely used as bait. Oysters (ie. apart from the shell, but including viscera) are usually consumed whole, while usually only the meat of salmonids and prawns is eaten. In contrast, prawns and salmonid are more likely to undergo some form of heat treatment then oysters. Page 10

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capacity to do this in imported seafood products depends on the numbers initially present, the .. It can originate from primary or secondary treatment processes or from the digestion process. The most important crabs in order of tonnage are spanner crabs, blue swimmer crabs and mud crabs.
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