Parasites - Anisakiasis

Print
Related Pages
Left: Coiled worms in fresh, never frozen, fillet of cod. Center: L3 larva of an anisakid worm. Right: A group of Herring caught at sea. Ingesting infected fish that are raw or undercooked can lead to Anisakiasis.

 

Anisakiasis is a parasitic disease caused by anisakid nematodes (worms) that can invade the stomach wall or intestine of humans. The transmission of this disease occurs when infective larvae are ingested from fish or squid that humans eat raw or undercooked. In some cases, this infection is treated by removal of the larvae via endoscopy or surgery.

Images: Left: A coiled anisakid worm (Pseudoterranova decipiens) in a fillet of cod. Center: A view of the anterior (head) end of Pseudoterranova decipiens, showing the presence of “lips”; taken under differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. Right: Pseudoterranova decipiens recovered from a human patient. (Credit: DPDx)

About Anisakiasis

Most common questions answered...

Treatment

Treatment resources for Health Professionals

Information for Health Professionals

Resources for treatment options

Diagnosis

How Anisakiasis is diagnosed?

Prevention & Control

Methods for preventing Anisakiasis