Zoonotic parasites in feral animals commonly consumed in Australia — is there a risk?

Purpose of Review: Consumption of wild game meat is traditionally associated with rural, remote and poor areas around the world, but there has been a recent rise in the consumption of wild game meat in urban and higher socio-economic regions such as Australia. Along with its unique animal fauna, Australia has a wide diversity of feral animals, many of which are hunted for food, although little is known about the levels of consumption of this meat across Australia. Corresponding with this is the lack of information on the parasites within these animals, particularly those of potential zoonotic concern through the consumption of raw or undercooked meat and organs. This review aimed to determine the level of knowledge of parasites of feral animals regularly consumed in Australia. 

Recent Findings: Online databases were searched for publications on feral animals and their parasites. For the purpose of this review, only protozoal and helminth parasites that infest the muscle and organ systems and are infective to humans upon ingestion were considered as potential zoonotic parasites. A total of 5 records were found based on host and 27 based on parasite, showing a lack of information available.

Summary: Little information was available on the parasites of the major groups of feral animals hunted in Australia for food (pigs, deer, rabbits and hares, and goats) as well as on the parasites themselves, except for sparganosis caused by the cestode Spirometra erinaceieuropaei which has been widely reported in feral pigs. Sparganosis appears to be an underreported disease in Australia, with only 8 confirmed cases, highlighting the need for education of medical practitioners, especially in rural and remote areas, on the diagnosis of this infection.