Distribution of Anisakis species larvae from fishes of the Japanese waters.

Authors :: Quiazon KM
Yoshinaga T
Ogawa K
Source :: Parasitology international [Parasitol Int] 2011 Jun; Vol. 60 (2), pp. 223-6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Mar 21.
Publication Year :: 2011
Abstract: Human anisakiasis is caused by the consumption of raw, marinated or undercooked fish and squid infected with nematodes of the genus Anisakis Dujardin, 1845. In view of food safety, this study was carried out to examine the distribution of Anisakis species in marine fishes within Japanese waters. Seven fish species from six localities were collected and examined for Anisakis infection. Morphological and molecular (ITS region and mtDNA cox2 gene) characterization revealed the presence of two, among the three sibling species of Anisakis simplex, viz. A. simplex sensu stricto (s.s.) and A. pegreffii. Distribution data were collated with the results from the previous researches to better understand Anisakis distribution in Japanese waters. Distributions of Anisakis species were found to be locality-specific rather than host-specific, particularly between the two major species, A. simplex s.s. and A. pegreffii. Anisakis simplex s.s. is mainly found in fishes from northern Japan to Pacific sides, whereas A. pegreffii is in fishes from the Sea of Japan to East China Sea sides.<br /> (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)