Food and Environmental Parasitology Network (FEPN)

Background:

Foodborne and waterborne illnesses associated with parasitic infections have increased dramatically in Canada in recent years. While many of these outbreaks and cases have a human source (eg., contamination of foods from infected foodhandlers, or contamination of water with sewage, etc.), others are zoonotic in origin (animal to human transmission)(eg., infected meat animals and fish, agricultural run-off, companion animals, etc.). Consequently, there is an urgent need for further research and surveillance on these issues in Canada. These laboratory based studies are required to form the basis of health risk assessments, risk management decisions, guidelines and policies to ensure the safety of food and water in Canada.

The Bureau of Microbial Hazards (Health Canada) has recently established (2009) a network of Canadian researchers, regulators, and public health officials with an active involvement in issues related to food and environmental parasitology. The Food and Environmental Parasitology Network (FEPN) is the first formal network addressing these issues in Canada, and brings together experts in this important and emerging field. The FEPN is Chaired by Dr. Brent Dixon, Health Canada, Ottawa, and Co-Chaired by Dr. Momar Ndao, McGill University, Montreal. The Network currently has over 50 members from across Canada representing federal and provincial government, academia, and industry.

To view or download a copy of our Terms of Reference, CLICK HERE.

Scope and Objectives:

The scope of the Network includes foodborne, waterborne, and zoonotic parasites of public health concern in Canada, such as the protozoan (single-celled) parasites Cyclospora, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Toxoplasma, and the helminth parasites (parasitic worms) such as the roundworms Trichinella and Anisakis, and the tapeworms Taenia, Echinococcus and Diphyllobothrium.

The Network focuses on issues such as contaminated foods and infected food animals (eg., imported produce, raw meats, fish and shellfish, country foods), potable and non-potable water, northern and aboriginal issues, zoonotic transmission (eg., livestock, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture, companion animals), and epidemiology.

The major objectives of the Network are:

to identify and communicate risks and research / surveillance gaps relevant to the fields of food and environmental parasitology;

to facilitate discussion, collaborative research, and development of grant applications amongst members and external researchers;
to develop and validate standardized methods for the isolation, detection, characterization and control of foodborne and environmental parasites;
to develop and validate methods for the surveillance and investigation of parasitic infection in humans;
to generate data for risk assessment and policy development; and
to provide expert advice and testing in support of outbreak investigations and surveillance studies.

Membership:

Membership in the Network is open to all individuals (Government, Non-governmental Organizations, Academia, and Industry) with a research, public health, or regulatory involvement in the fields of foodborne parasites and/or environmental parasitology in Canada. Members of the FEPN are expected to:

participate in developing and achieving Network objectives;
attend and participate in meetings / teleconferences;
contribute to discussions and complete specific tasks as required;
identify issues for future discussion;
serve as liaison between their organization and the Network;
identify potential new members; and
participate with a spirit of cooperation.

An annotated Directory of Members is now available and includes a Parasite / Issues Index.

Download the Directory

Meetings:

Meetings are held at least two times per year by teleconference. In addition, ad hoc meetings are held in conjunction with scientific conferences whenever possible. The first such face-to-face meeting was held in Ottawa in November, 2009 and had over 30 participants.

Food and Environmental Parasitology Network Face-to-face Meeting, November 3, 2009
Front Row (L to R): Nicole Guselle, Muhammad Morshed, Momar Ndao (Co-Chair), Jason Tetro (Secretary), Brent Dixon (Chair), Jeff Farber (Director, BMH)
Back Row (L to R): Natalie Prystajecky, Batol Al-Adhami, Rebecca Guy, Spencer Greenwood, Louise Trudel, Nicolas Gilbert, Pia Muchaal, Lena Measures, Susan Springthorpe, Neil Chilton, Paul Sockett, Theresa Gyorkos, Sharon Calvin, Yemisi Dare, Manon Simard, Corinne Ong, Janet Yee
Missing: Alvin Gajadhar, Emily Jenkins, Makonnen Abebe, Rich Kibbee, Dele Ogunremi

Future goals:

Future goals of the Network include the establishment of a national reference laboratory(ies) for food and environmental parasitology, which would include a centralized culture collection and a database for laboratory testing results and parasite genotyping data. The Network will also be establishing linkages to similar international networks and databases.

Contact Information:

For more information please contact the Chair of the FEPN, Dr. Brent Dixon at Brent.Dixon@hc-sc.gc.ca