title: Fish Product-Borne Histamine Intoxication Outbreak and Survey of Imported Fish and Fish Products in Serbia.
abstract: Histamine levels in fish and fish products are regarded as a primary criterion for food safety, considering the effects of histamine on human health. The aim of this research was to describe a case of massive histamine intoxication in Serbian children and to provide relevant information regarding the presence of histamine in imported marine fish and fish products available in the Serbian market. In January 2014, an incident of foodborne illness occurred in 28 children (aged 2 to 5 years) who consumed canned sardines in a kindergarten in Vojvodina province, northern Serbia. The diagnosis was established based on anamnestic data, epidemiological data, and clinical symptoms and confirmed by positive histamine finding in the incriminated sardines. Substantially high histamine levels (>300 mg/kg) were detected in seven of the nine examined units of these canned sardines. In addition, during an official veterinary border control from January 2013 to January 2015, 273 lots in total, including 2,457 fish and fishery product units, were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Even though only nine (3.29%) of all examined lots were declared as unsafe for human consumption, the presented case of histamine intoxication strongly suggests the importance of border inspection and comprehensive control of each imported lot.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad," Rumenacki put 20, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia. jelena@niv.ns.ac.rs.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petrovic
authors.affiliation: Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad," Rumenacki put 20, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Babić
authors.affiliation: Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad," Rumenacki put 20, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaksic
authors.affiliation: Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad," Rumenacki put 20, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia.
authors.forename: Brankica
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kartalovic
authors.affiliation: Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad," Rumenacki put 20, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ljubojevic
authors.affiliation: Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad," Rumenacki put 20, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cirkovic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005396:Fish Products / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics; D005399:Fishes; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006632:Histamine