Health Hazards Associated with Arthropod Infestation of Stored Products
Language English Country United States Media print
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review
- Keywords
- arthropod-related allergens, arthropod-related contaminants, food safety, mites, mycotoxin contamination, transmission of microorganisms,
- MeSH
- Arthropod Vectors MeSH
- Insecta * MeSH
- Food Microbiology MeSH
- Food Parasitology * MeSH
- Mites * MeSH
- Food Storage MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Review MeSH
Insects and mites are common inhabitants and accidental invaders of food, including durable commodities, and their presence can have both direct and indirect effects on human health. The most common direct effect is contamination of food with arthropod fragments and related contaminants, which may be allergenic or even carcinogenic. The most important indirect effect is that their presence can change the storage microenvironment, making durable products suitable for the rapid development of fungi and other microorganisms. Some of these fungi can produce toxins (e.g., aflatoxins) that endanger human health. Insects may actively or passively contribute to the spread of microorganisms, increasing product contamination, and they may host bacteria that have developed antibiotic resistance, contributing to their spread in food. Several species also may host, attract, or transmit tapeworms, predators, or parasitoids that may affect health. This review synthesizes research on these topics and suggests directions for future research.
References provided by Crossref.org
Microbial Communities of Stored Product Mites: Variation by Species and Population
