FOOD SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH WILDLIFE-DERIVED PRODUCTS IN ALBANIA: A ONE-YEAR FIELD AND LABORATORY ASSESSMENT

ELEZI, Besnik and KORRO, Kastriot and ELEZI, Merije (2026) FOOD SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH WILDLIFE-DERIVED PRODUCTS IN ALBANIA: A ONE-YEAR FIELD AND LABORATORY ASSESSMENT. In: 2026 International Congress "From Research to Application", 20 May 2026, University of Tetova, Tetova, North Macedonia.

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Abstract

The increasing global demand for organic food products and those derived from wildlife has intensified concerns regarding food safety and the transmission of zoonotic diseases, particularly at the human- wildlife- environment interface. This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological safety of products originating from wildlife in a mountain ecosystem in Southern Albania during a one year monitoring period. A total of 183 samples, including meat, eggs, and fecal samples, were analyzed for the presence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. using standard microbiological method (ISO 6579 -1: 2017). The results revealed a prevalence of 10.9% for E. coli and 15.8% for Salmonella spp., exceeding the safety thresholds established by Regulation (EC) 2073/2005. Seasonal analysis demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of Salmonella during warmer periods (p < 0.05), aligning with global trends on climate driven pathogen replication, while E. coli showed a more stable, endemic distribution. The detection of these pathogens across multiple sample types confirms that wildlife in this region acts as a critical natural reservoir for zoonotic agents, highlighting risks of environmental contamination and cross- contamination during informal handling and processing. These findings underscore the urgent need for integrated surveillance under the “One Health” framework to mitigate public health risks associated with the consumption of wild- sourced products.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
Depositing User: Unnamed user with email zshi@unite.edu.mk
Date Deposited: 01 Jul 2026 09:49
Last Modified: 01 Jul 2026 09:49
URI: http://eprints.unite.edu.mk/id/eprint/2359

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