ISO/TC 34/SC 9/WG 6 - Food-borne parasites

This document specifies a method for the detection of Anisakidae L3 larvae commonly found in marine and anadromous fishes. The method is applicable to fresh fish and/or frozen fish, as well as lightly processed fish products, such as marinated, salted or cold smoked. This method is applicable to quantifying parasitic infections by estimating the number of parasites in the fish musculature. This method does not apply to determining the species or genotype of detected parasites. Final identification is made by morphological and/or molecular methods.

This document specifies a method for the detection of Anisakidae L3 larvae commonly found in marine and anadromous fishes. The method is applicable to fresh fish and/or frozen fish, as well as lightly processed fish products, such as marinated, salted or smoked. It is also suitable for visceral organs as a confirmatory method for a visual inspection scheme. The artificial digestion method[4][5][6] is applicable to quantifying parasitic infections by estimating the number of parasites in the fish musculature and, when applied to fresh fish or lightly processed fish products (never frozen before processing), determining the viability of Anisakidae L3, which can be present. This method does not apply to determining the species or genotype of detected parasites. Final identification is made by morphological and/or molecular methods.

ISO 18744:2016 specifies a method that is applicable for the detection and enumeration of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts on or in food products that are described herein as fresh leafy green vegetables and berry fruits. With suitable controls, it may also be applicable for the examination of other fresh produce. The microscopy descriptions are for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and Giardia duodenalis cysts of size ranges which include those species (Cryptosporidium) or assemblages (Giardia) known to be pathogenic to humans. This method does not include any molecular analysis and therefore is not suitable for the determination of the species or genotypes/assemblages of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts. The method will detect all species and genotypes/assemblages that are known to be pathogenic for humans and also others that are not. For further identification, molecular typing assays are required. However, these cannot be reliably performed if process positive controls have been spiked into the samples, as the result of molecular typing assays will be obfuscated. This method does not allow the determination of viability or infectivity of any Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts which may be present.

ISO 18743:2015 specifies a method of detection of Trichinella spp. muscle stage larvae in meat of individual animal carcasses intended for human consumption. It is applicable to the examination of meat from domestic and sylvatic animal species, which can be infected by nematodes of the genus Trichinella. This method does not allow the identification of the species or genotype of detected parasites; species or genotype identification can be carried out by molecular methods. The method described in this International Standard is intended to be used in conjunction with the guidelines in the OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines and by the International Commission on Trichinellosis (ICT) for Trichinella testing and the inspection of carcasses intended for human consumption, unless it has been demonstrated by other means that the animal was not at risk for exposure to Trichinella. The artificial digestion/magnetic stirrer method is considered to be the standard method because it has proven to give the most reliable results in validation studies. NOTE Provided equivalence with the method described within this International Standard can be documented, alternative methods can be used for analysis.