Tracking emerging zoonotic pathogens from farm to fork

A combination of factors including changes in the agri-food chain, social changes, advances in detection and reporting systems coupled with bacterial adaptation and evolution have in recent years lead to the emergence of a number of zoonotic microorganisms in the food and water chain. These include multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria, verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli, parasites such as Cyclospora on fruit, and Cyrptosporidium and Giardia in water, Enterobacter sakazakii in infant milk formula, and emergent species of Campylobacteraceae. In this paper, Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli and Campylobacteraceae are taken as examples of emergent pathogens in the meat chain. Specific factors which may have lead to their emergence are deliberated, in addition to an overview of tools for their detection and tracking, and their epidemiology and survival characteristics. Approaches to managing and controlling emergent pathogens in the agri-food chain are also discussed.