Visible parasites in fresh cephalopods sold on the Italian market: impact on consumers’ perception on safety and quality

Background: Visible parasites in seafood may represent a hazard, in the case of zoonotic species, and a defect, in the case of obvious contamination, making products unsafe and unfit for human consumption. Objective: to evaluate the presence of visible parasites in fresh cephalopod products sold in Italy Materials and Methods: data on the species most commonly commercialized as fresh in Italy were collected. Based on literature data Doryteuthis pealeii (Atlantic squid) and Eledone spp., comprising E. cirrhosa and E. moschata (horned octopus and musky octopus, respectively) were selected, considering that these commercial species had been rarely investigated. 55 Eledone spp. caught in the Mediterranean Sea (FAO area 37) and 54 D. pealeii from the Northwest Atlantic (FAO area 21) were examined by visual inspection and artificial digestion (viscera and mantle separately). Parasites were morphologically identified, counted and molecularly analysed. Prevalence (P) and mean abundance (MA) were calculated. Results: 7 specimens of D. pealei (P: 12.7% ±8.8 95%CI; MA: 0.2) were positive for plerocercoid larvae of Clistobothrium sp. (n=11) which were found in the viscera; in 2 other specimens 2 nematodes identified as Anisakis simplex were found in the viscera and in the mantle. In Eledone spp. 6 nematodes not belonging to Anisakis spp., for which morphological and molecular identification is ongoing, were found in the mantle of 4 specimens (P: 7.3% ±6.87 95%CI; MA: 0.1). Discussion and Conclusion: outcomes from this study show the possible presence, also in the mantle, of visible zoonotic parasites (A. simplex). In addition, the presence of large (1.5-2 cm), mobile plerocercoid larvae was detected. Such findings influence products’ safety and quality, as well as consumers’ related perception. Perspectives: the study will provide data for better implementing Food Business Operators inspection procedures aimed at guaranteeing products’ quality and consumers’ safety.