The IAFWP in partnership with the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) organized a symposium on Food and Waterborne Parasites that was held at the 2017 International Conference of the WAAVP in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on September 6, 2017. Several major presentations were given by invited experts who reviewed specific topics in food and waterborne parasitology as related to public health challenges, and advances in the prevention of human disease.  A Special Issue based on five of the invited presentations has now been published in IAFWP’s journal, Food and Waterborne Parasitology, and is freely available to all readers (https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/food-and-waterborne-parasitology/vol/8/suppl/C). Financial support for the symposium was kindly provided by Thermo Fisher Scientific, SafePath Laboratories and New Life Diagnostics.

Foodborne parasites (FBP) are a neglected topic in food safety, due to lack of awareness of their importance for public health, their biological diversity, and, for many FBP, lack of standardized detection methods, which complicates identification of the infection vehicle. The COST Action FA1408, A European Network for Foodborne Parasites (Euro-FBP), aims to limit the impact of FBP on public health by facilitating multidisciplinary cooperation and partnership among researchers, and between researchers and stakeholders. Outbreaks represent a common topic overarching specialization in one or more FBP, thus providing a platform for knowledge exchange. This report summarizes the outcomes of a meeting within the Euro-FBP consortium entitled ‘Outbreaks and Outbreak Investigations’. Recent and historical outbreaks of trichinellosis, opisthorchiasis, and cryptosporidiosis were used as examples to underline the complexity of the topic, the different foods implicated and their traceability, and the lack of standardized detection methods for some parasites. Possible solutions to overcome current limitations were also illustrated. The meeting provided an opportunity to learn from recent advances in the study of bacterial foodborne outbreaks, with an emphasis on genome analysis.

To read the full report, visit https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676617300203.

IAFWP is pleased to welcome the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP), Scandinavian-Baltic Society for Parasitology (SBSP), European Network for Foodborne Parasites (EURO-FBP) and the Environmental Parasitology Network (FEPN) as Affiliate Group members. A new Affiliate Group Membership category was recently established in IAFWP to facilitate formal cooperation with like-minded organizations which share our goals to advance and facilitate research, collaboration and dissemination of knowledge on all aspects of parasites that are transmitted by food or water to humans. There is no cost for becoming an Affiliate Member, and there are many benefits to the group and its individual members, as listed on our website, including:

• Use of IAFWP’s website for announcements, reports, and mission statement of Affiliate Member groups
• A 50% discount on IAFWP membership fee for individual members of Affiliate Member groups
• Option to use Food and Waterborne Parasitology (FAWPAR) as the official organ for publications, including reports, proceedings, etc.
• Representation on FAWPAR’s Editorial Board as appropriate
• Opportunities to participate in conferences, symposia and workshops organized or co-organized by IAFWP
• Networking opportunities with IAFWP’s other Affiliate Member groups

To learn more or to apply for Affiliate Group Member status, please contact us.

Foods including meat, milk, fish, fruit and vegetables can be contaminated with different parasites. Examples include Toxoplasma gondii and Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) which can be carried by animals and transmitted to humans when they eat contaminated meat that is raw or undercooked. Humans infected with Taenia solium can develop brain cysts, and this is the most frequent preventable cause of epilepsy in the world. Three key ways to control foodborne parasites are to prevent infection in farmed food animals, prevent contamination of fresh and processed foods, and inactivate parasites in foods during processing (e.g. freezing, heat treatment). In 2016, the Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted guidelines on the hygienic production of various types of foods to control parasites and protect health – Guidelines on the Application of the General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Foodborne Parasites (CAC/GL 88 – 2016). These guidelines expand Codex guidance on parasite  control, following prior work resulting in Guidelines for the control of Taenia saginata in Meat of Domestic Cattle (CAC/GL 85-2014) and Guidelines for the Control of Trichinella spp. in Meat of Suidae (CAC/GL 86 – 2015), which were adopted in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Executive Board of IAFWP, welcome to the International Association for Food and Waterborne Parasitology – IAFWP. The Association and its official journal, Food and Waterborne Parasitology (FAWPAR) were founded in the fall of 2014 in an effort to bring together scientists and others engaged in various activities for the control of parasites transmitted to humans by ingestion of food or water. The scope of the IAFWP and FAWPAR includes all relevant parasites – protozoa, trematodes, cestodes, nematodes – that may be acquired from eating meat, vegetables, or fruit or by drinking contaminated water.

The biology and epidemiology of many parasites transmitted by food or water are poorly understood and control of these parasites in both humans and animals presents unique challenges. Some of the resulting widespread or serious parasitoses have recently been categorized as neglected diseases. Consequently, food and waterborne parasitology is increasingly recognized as a priority area for study, including the generation of knowledge for practical applications. The goals of both the IAFWP and FAWPAR are to play key roles in the dissemination of knowledge on all aspects of food and waterborne parasitology, to stimulate critical thinking, networking, and research collaboration ranging from basic to applied.

The demand for safe food and water continues to increase and many parasites remain a significant public health risk in both developed and developing countries, and a challenge for international trade and economies. National and international regulatory authorities have recently renewed efforts to address these issues. The IAFWP intends to serve as a major resource for knowledge to inform consumers and regulators of best practices for controlling parasites in the food and water supplies.

Sincerely,

Alvin Gajadhar, President
Ray Gamble, Chairman