Abstract
Tritia mutabilis is a carrion-feeder edible marine gastropod with an open circulatory system. Therefore, biological, and chemical contaminants associated with the feed can reach all body tissues. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible association of these characteristics with some food safety hazards. Vibrio spp. load, and the prevalence of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, and V. cholerae, were investigated. Moreover, biogenic amines (BAs) and indole-producing bacteria (IPB), markers of seafood decomposition, were quantified for the first time in an edible carrion-feeder. Overall, 49 batches were analyzed (38 from retail, and 11 from primary production). The Vibrio spp. load resulted of 5.64 ± 0.69 log10 CFU g−1 at retail, and 5.27 ± 0.74 at harvest but all batches resulted negative for pathogenic Vibrio. Histamine, putrescine, cadaverine, and tyramine were detected both at harvest and at the retail level. Their sum (BAs Index) showed a mean value of 50.45 and 65.83 mg Kg−1 in batches at harvest and at retail, respectively. IPB were detected at harvest and upon refrigeration for three days (T1–T3). The mean load resulted in 2.52 ± 0.85 log10 MPN g−1 at T0, 3.31 ± 1.23 at T3 in batches immediately refrigerated, and 3.22 ± 1.18 at T3 in batches previously immersed in clean seawater. Our results contribute to identifying food-borne hazards for T. mutabilis that may be related to the retention of biogenic amines and indole-producing bacteria due to carrion feeding.
Highlights
Fishing of marine gastropod Tritia mutabilis is by far the most important activity carried out by artisanal fisheries in the Central and Northern Adriatic Sea, yielding from 2000 to 3000 tons of landings each year [1,2].According to diet, gastropods can be herbivorous, carnivorous, and omnivorous, and their feeding strategies are very diversified including grazing, suspension-feeding, predation, and even parasitism [3]
Vibrio spp. load resulted in a variable within 4.07 and 7.69 log10 Colony Forming Units (CFU) g−1 with a mean value of 5.70 ± 0.75 log10 CFU g−1
A recent study evidenced a Vibrio spp. mean load exceeding 5 log10 CFU g−1 in the tissues of T. mutabilis and 5.79 log10 CFU g−1 in Bolinus brandaris, another carnivorous gastropod fished, commonly by-catch, in the Adriatic Sea [33]
Summary
Gastropods can be herbivorous, carnivorous, and omnivorous, and their feeding strategies are very diversified including grazing, suspension-feeding, predation, and even parasitism [3]. T. mutabilis is a scavenger gastropod, feeding on carrion in the adult stage [2,4]. Gastropods, together with bivalve mollusks, possess an open circulatory system, characterized by irregular spaces or sinuses within the tissues between the distributing and collecting blood vessels [5]. The system is considered open because the blood (hemolymph) empties from a contractile heart and major supply vessels into the body cavity (hemocoel), where it directly bathes the organs [6]. Contaminants including bacteria, viruses, and chemicals circulating after feeding can reach all body tissues
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