First Report Of IgE Sensitization To Anisakis Simplex In a Healthy Population in Colombia

The anisakiasis is little known in Colombia and rarely diagnosed. However, reports of fish parasitized by anisakid larvae in South America are increasing. The objective was determine the prevalence of sensitization to Anisakis simplex in a healthy population in Colombia. Cross-sectional survey of 150 volunteers from Universidad del Valle’s community, Cali, Colombia. Past medical history, including eating habits associated with fish consumption was assessed. Prevalence of IgE antibodies was determined by the ELISA- Trisakis 170 kit for the recombinant allergens Ani s 1 and Ani s 7. Two sera (1.3%) of blood tested were positive to the Ani s 7 antigen, while for Ani s 1 all sera were negative. This research is the first exploratory study on Anisakis prevalence conducted in Colombia, the results do not indicate a major problem. Nevertheless, more epidemiological studies are needed.

Helminth Parasites of Caranx hippos (Crevalle Jack) and Sardinella maderensis (Madeiran Sardinella) from Two Fishing Settlements In Okrika, Rivers State, Nigeria

Fish is an important dietary component as a source of high quality protein, and parasitic infections can result in production and economic losses. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the helminth parasites of Caranx hippos and Sardinella maderensis of Okrika. Fish samples were purchased from fishers between May and June, 2019 from two locations: Angalabia and Sara landing ports, Okrika. Fifty specimens of each species were dissected using standard methods, and parasites were identified using appropriate keys. Parasite ecological parameters were computed. Two parasite species were identified, Lethacotyle sp. (monogenea) and Anisakid larvae (nematode). Twenty-six specimens of Caranx hippos were infected with Lethacotyle sp., and eight with Anisakid larvae. Only one specimen of S. maderensis was infected with Anisakid larvae; others were un-infected. Examination showed a prevalence of 52.0% and 16.0% infection of Lethacotyle sp. and Anisakid larvae, respectively, in Caranx hippos, and 2.0% prevalence of Anisakid larvae in Sardinella maderensis. The preferred organs for parasite infection were the gills (Lethacotyle sp.) and intestines (Anisakid larva) of infected fish. The recovery of Anisakid larvae at a prevalence of 16% indicates that anisakiasis could be an emerging disease in Okrika. It is recommended that further research be conducted into the molecular characterization of Lethacotyle sp. of C. hippos of Okrika. It is also important to properly identify and characterize the Anisakid species, and investigate the incidence of human anisakiasis inOkrika and other coastal cities of Rivers State, Nigeria. Keywords: Lethacotyle, Anisakid larva, anisakiasis, Caranx, Sardinella, Parasites, Marine, Okrika, Nigeria

Negligible risk of zoonotic anisakid nematodes in farmed fish from European mariculture, 2016 to 2018

Background The increasing demand for raw or undercooked fish products, supplied by both aquaculture and fisheries, raises concerns about the transmission risk to humans of zoonotic fish parasites. This has led to the current European Union (EU) Regulation No 1276/2011 amending Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 and mandating a freezing treatment of such products. Zoonotic parasites, particularly anisakid larvae, have been well documented in wild fish. Data on their presence in European aquaculture products, however, are still scarce, except for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), where the zoonotic risk was assessed as negligible, exempting it from freezing treatment. Aim To evaluate the zoonotic Anisakidae parasite risk in European farmed marine fish other than Atlantic salmon. Methods From 2016 to 2018 an observational parasitological survey was undertaken on 6,549 farmed fish including 2,753 gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), 2,761 European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and 1,035 turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) from 14 farms in Italy, Spain and Greece. Furthermore, 200 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) sea-caged in Denmark, as well as 352 seabream and 290 seabass imported in Italy and Spain from other countries were examined. Fish were subjected to visual inspection and candling. Fresh visceral organs/fillet samples were artificially digested or UV pressed and visually examined for zoonotic anisakid larvae. Results No zoonotic parasites were found in any of the fish investigated. Conclusions The risk linked to zoonotic Anisakidae in the examined fish species from European mariculture appears negligible. This study laid the groundwork for considerations to amend the current EU regulation.

Morphological and Molecular Characteristics of Anisakis typica Larvae in Two Species of Threadfin Bream, Nemipterus hexodon and N. japonicus, from the Gulf of Thailand

The third stage larvae (L3) of <i>Anisakis typica</i> were detected in 2 species of threadfin bream, <i>Nemipterus hexodon</i> and <i>N. japonicus</i>, from the Gulf of Thailand, and were morphologically and molecularly characterized. Total 100 threadfin breams, 50 <i>Nemipterus hexodon</i> and 50 <i>N. japonicus</i>, were examined with naked eyes after the opening of abdominal cavity with scissors. Almost all infected larvae remained alive and active even the fish were transported for 1-2 days. Anisakid larvae were exclusively distributed in the body cavity and rarely in the liver. The prevalence of <i>A. typica</i> L3 were 68.0% and 60.0% in <i>N. hexodon</i> and <i>N. japonicus</i> and their infection intensities were 3.5 and 4.2 per fish infected each. Morphological and morphometric analysis were performed by viewing specimens under both a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Interestingly, the protruded mucron of <i>Anisakis typica</i> under SEM showed a distinct cylindrical shape that differed from the cone shape of <i>A. simplex</i>. The protruded mucron could be used to identify <i>A. typica</i> L3 larvae in the future. A comparison of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA nucleotide sequences of these species revealed high blast scores with <i>A. typica</i>. Conclusively, it was confirmed that <i>A. typica</i> L3 are prevalent in threadfin breams from the Gulf of Thailand, and their morphological and molecular characters are something different from those of other anisakid larvae, including A. simplex and <i>A. pegreffii</i>.

Anisakid Larvae from Anchovies in the South Coast of Korea

Anisakiasis (anisakidosis) refers to a foodborne zoonosis caused by ingesting raw or undercooked marine fish or cephalopods infected with anisakid larvae. The present study was performed to investigate the prevalence of anisakid larvae in anchovies (<i>Engraulis</i> <i>japonica</i>) purchased from 2 local markets in Gyeongsangnam-do, the Republic of Korea (=Korea), during 2018-2019. Anchovies were transported to our laboratory and examined by pepsin-HCl artificial digestion technique followed by microscopic observations and molecular analyses. The overall prevalence of anisakid larvae was 19.5% (39/200), from which a total of 51 larvae (av. 1.3 larvae/infected anchovy) were recovered. Sequencing of the larvae targeting the ITS region, including ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, and ITS2 genes confirmed the species of larvae as <i>Anisakis</i> <i>pegreffii</i> (54.9%; 28/51), <i>Hysterothylacium</i> <i>sinense</i> (23.5%; 12/51), and <i>Hysterothylacium</i> <i>aduncum</i> (21.5%; 11/51). The results suggested that anchovies could be a potential source of human anisakiasis in Korea.

Presence of anisakid larvae in commercial fishes landed in the Pacific coast of Ecuador and Colombia

Introduction: Anisakidosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the consumption of raw or undercooked fish or crustaceans parasitized by nematode larvae of the Anisakidae family. In this study, the presence of anisakid larvae was identified in fish species of consumer of the Pacific coast in Ecuador and Colombia.Methods: We obtained 438 samples grouped into twenty species of fish caught in the fishing ports of Manta, Santa Rosa, Buenaventura and Tumaco. The morphological identification of the larvae was made by taxonomy and the percentage of infection, were calculated. For the identification of species, a multiplex PCR was carried.Results: The taxonomic review identified eight species of fish as hosts of the genders Anisakis andPseudoterranova. The larvae were isolated mainly from the intestine with a percentage of infection between 18 and 100%. The percentage of infection and identification of anisakids in these fish will aid in the prevention and control of anisakiasis as a possible emerging disease for this area of the Pacific. With the multiplex PCR, A. pegreffii, A. physeteris, and P. decipiens were identified.Conclusion: The identification of these species is reported for the first time in this geographical area, providing the basis for future research into the Anisakidae family.

Preliminary study on the inactivation of anisakid larvae in baccalà prepared according to traditional methods

The European Food Safety Authority stated that many traditional marinating and cold smoking methods are not sufficient to kill A. simplex and asked to evaluate alternative treatments for killing viable parasites in fishery. Baccalà is a well-liked traditional product. The aim of study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the salting process on the inactivation of nematodes of the genus Anisakis in naturally infected Baccalà fillets. N. 19 fillets, subjected to a dual salting process (brine and dry salting) were analyzed. Visual inspection and chloropeptic digestion were performed. Larvae viability was evaluated, and parameters such as NaCl (%), moisture (%), WPS and aw were determined. In n. 17 samples parasites were found 123 parasites with a mean intensity of 7.23±4.78 and an mean abundance of 6.47±5.05. Visual examination has revealed 109 parasites. 61.8% of larvae were found in the ventral portions. The results show that salting process with a salt concentration of 18.6%, aw values of 0.7514 and 24.15% WPS in all parts of baccalà fillets, devitalise Anisakidae larvae in a 15-day period.

Helminth parasites of the chub mackerelScomber coliasoff the Tunisian coast and their use in stock discrimination

Nine helminth parasites were used as biological tags to discriminate diverse areas ofScomber coliasGmelin, 1789. During three seasons, a total of 369 fish were examined in four zones off the Tunisian coast, including Bizerte in the north, Kelibia and Mahdia in the centre and Zarzis in the south. Discriminant analyses were used to identify distinct areas ofS. colias. Fish from Bizerte were grouped as one area and were correlated negatively with the monogeneanGrubea cochlearand the digeneanLecithocladium excisum. Specimens from Kelibia and Mahdia were grouped together and were characterized by the ectoparasitePseudokuhnia minorand by endoparasitesProdistomum orientalis, Monascus filiformisand anisakid larvae. Fish from Zarzis were grouped as one area and were positively correlated with the monogeneanG. cochlearand the digeneanL. excisum. These results were corroborated by comparing the prevalence and mean abundance of parasites among zones. Results of other discriminant analyses used for the classification ofS. coliasbetween localities after pooling specimens from the central areas of Kelibia and Mahdia also allowed the identification of three distinct areas: one in the north, correlated negatively withG. cochlearandL. excisum;one in the centre, characterized byP. minor, P. orientalis, M. filiformisand anisakid larvae; and one in the south, from Zarzis, characterized byG. cochlearandL. excisum. Results of comparisons of infection parameters between seasons and those of seasonal discrminant analyses showed a seasonal stability of communities from the northern and the southern areas. Specimens from the central regions showed variability between seasons, suggesting migratory movements.