Rischi sanitari associati alla movimentazione dell’ittiofauna e all’introduzione di alloctoni

In Italy, the introduction of fish fauna from foreign countries, both for inland waters restocking or for aquaculture, as been going on for years. This activity has led numerous alien species to spread. Problems related to international trade are not just an Italian issue. In fact, the presence of globalisation and the paucity of rules and controls at frontiers may led to the introduction of alien species in a Member State that can easily spread throughout the territory. Consequently, those non-native species may affect the ecology of indigenous species and harbor new pathogens that may be more virulent for the native fish fauna. A classic example is the Anguillicolosis, a parasitic disease caused by Anguillicoloides crassus, introduced in Europe through the import of Anguilla japonica from Asia. It causes health problems in aquaculture facilities and in eel wild populations. In addition, certain pathogens introduced with the import of live fish may potentially be dangerous for humans (zoonotic agents), such as some etheroxenic parasites present in freshwater fishes. Health issues are not only related to the introduction of alien species from other countries, but are also extended to the handling of indigenous species from different geographic district within the national territory. Thus, risks from the introduction of alien species are several: while the ecological risks have been repeatedly defined, and reaffirmed at national and international scientific meetings, the health risks are often marginally considered. The aim of this work is to contribute to the assessment of health risks that an accidental introduction of freshwater fishes may cause in inland waters and in fisheries sector.