Concentration levels of cadmium and lead in the raw and processed meat of Helix pomatia snails.

This work reports on cadmium and lead contaminations in the edible snail Helix pomatia harvested in Poland. One hundred and 24 samples of Helix pomatia meat collected from seven provinces (voivodeships) of Poland were analyzed for their trace metal levels by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The research was conducted in 2 stages. The 1st stage analyzed snail meat prior to any further technological treatment (raw meat). In the 2nd stage, the trace element levels were measured in meat subjected to technological treatment (processed meat). The trace element contents in raw meat samples ranged from 0.06 mg kg-1 to 0.22 mg kg-1 for Cd and from 0.06 mg kg-1 to 0.18 mg kg-1 for Pb. The analyses revealed an increase in the cad- mium content from 0.12 mg kg-1 to 0.18 mg kg-1 in thermally treated snail meat and no changes in lead concentration during the two-stage heat treatment. Regulation (EC) 1881/2006 does not specify the Cd and Pb residue limits in meat of terrestrial edible snails. The limits are set for in- vertebrate aquatic organisms meat (i.e. shellfish, mollusc, cephalopod) and range from 0.5 mg/kg to 1.5 mg/kg of tissue fresh weight for Pb and from 0.5 mg kg -1 to 1 mg kg-1 for Cd (EU Commis- sion 2006). The results demonstrate that the land snail Helix pomatia has a tendency to bioaccu- mulate trace elements, and the cooking process is likely to affect (increase) the Cd content in the snail meat.

Study on establishing normal ranges of chosen biochemical parameters of haemolymph of Cornu aspersum maxima and Cepaea nemoralis gastropods.

The aim of the study was to establish normal ranges for chosen biochemical parameters of haemolymph of snails (Gasropoda: Mollusca), in the light of the use of these animals as experi- mental models in various types of studies. The study was conducted on 100 specimens of Cornu aspersum maxima (CAM) and 100 specimens of Cepaea nemoralis (CN). The haemolymph col- lected from the animals was analysed using colorimetry to assay aspartate transaminase (AST) activity, alanine transaminase (ALT) activity, amylase activity and the concentrations of urea and triglycerides. In the further part of the study, the influence of administering doxycycline with feed on the change of AST and ALT activity in snail haemolymph has been studied. The normal values established for CAM are as follow: AST activity: 26-38 u/l, ALT activity: 0-11 u/l, amylase activity 9-16 u/l, concentration of urea: 3-6 mg/dl, concentration of triglycerides: 16-20 mg/dl. For CN, the following data have been obtained: AST activity: 30-80 u/l, ALT activity: 0-15 u/l, amylase activity 12-15 u/l, concentration of urea: 5-8 mg/dl, concentration of triglycerides: 18-24 mg/dl. It has been shown that doxycycline presents a high workload on the hepatopancreas of snails, which is reflected by a statistically significant (p ⟨ 0.05) increase of AST and ALT activity in the haemolymph of the specimens which obtained doxycycline in feed, as compared to the groups with antibiotic-free feed. The haemolymph activity of both studied parameters increased together with study time and tetracycline administration time.

Is the consumption of snail meat actually healthy? An analysis of the osteotropic influence of snail meat as a sole source of protein in growing rats.

The study was aimed at determining the osteotropic effects of diets containing snail meat as a sole protein source. In our experiment, we tested three different diets incorporating snail meat originating from Helix pomatia (HP), Cornu.aspesa maxima (CAM) and Cornu.aspersum aspersum (CAA) and compared these to a control diet (CON) in which casein was the source of protein. In all diets, the protein content amounted to 10%, as calculated on a dry weight basis. In the study, forty male Wistar rats with an initial body mass of 50 ± 2 g were randomly placed within the control and three experimental groups. After 28 days of experimental feeding, the rats were sacrificed, and the body mass, total skeletal density and body composition were recorded. Moreover, blood serum (osteocalcin, CTX) and isolated tibia (pQCT, DXA, 3D micro-CT, 3-point bending test) were stored for further analysis. The results reveal that a diet incorporating snail meat significantly decreased BMC (bone mineral content), as well as area of total skeleton and isolated tibia, and was without influence on BMD (bone mineral density). Furthermore, the 3D micro-CT analysis of trabecular compartment documented a reduced Tb.Th (trabecular thickness), as well as Tb.N (trabecular number), and an increased Tb.Sp (trabecular separation). Beyond the aforementioned, the snail-based diets had an influence upon the architectonical properties of the tibia-decreasing its resistance to mechanical loading. Finally, snail meat, when used as an alone source of protein, negatively influenced the metabolism of the bone tissue in growing animals-making bone smaller and weaker.