Cyclospora Outbreaks, Routes of Contamination, and Implications on the Fresh Produce Industry

More than 9 million cases of foodborne illnesses with identified etiology are reported annually in the US and include severe outbreaks attributed to Cyclospora cayetanensis. In 2013 more than 630 cases of cyclosporiasis were associated with consumption of imported salad mixes in Iowa and Nebraska and with cilantro in Texas.  In 2014, more than 300 cases of cyclosporiasis were associated with imported cilantro from Mexico, and in 2015, 546 cases of Cyclospora infection in 31 states were reported. Epidemiological and traceback studies linked some of the cases reported in Texas, Georgia, and Wisconsin with cilantro imported from Puebla, Mexico.  Cyclospora can enter the food production system when human feces are deposited into the agricultural environment. At that point, the edible parts of crops may be contaminated either directly or indirectly.  Contamination of the crop may also occur during harvest when produce comes into contact with other contaminated surfaces. The challenges encountered doing research with parasites are quite different than those with bacterial pathogens. As a result, the past three outbreaks have pointed to the lack of critical knowledge and research associated with understanding how parasites interact with vegetable plants and tissues. In this presentation we will address the large Cyclospora outbreaks since the 1990s and the challenges encountered by the fresh produce industry.