Anisakidae larval infection in fish fillets sold in Belgium

Summary

Fish fillets (n= 1760) sold on the Belgium market were examined for Anisakidae larval infection. Seven sea fish species were examined by means of the candling technique over a period of 4 months, from November 1996 to February 1997. Third‐stage larvae of Anisakis simplex and Pseudoterranova decipiens were identified. A. simplex was the most abundant species with a prevalence of 84.5%, and was found in 192 of the examined fillets (10.9%). Pollock (Pollachius pollachius) was the most heavily infected fish species (82.9%). The prevalence in cod (Gadus morhua), saithe (Pollachius virens), and whiting (Merlangius merlangus) was 34.7%, 26.7%, and 15.4% respectively. The prevalence in the three other fish species examined was low, namely 8.9%, 6.6%, and 3.8% for ling (Molva molva), catfish (Anarchias lupus), and Northeast red fish (Sebastes marinus), respectively. Pollock was the fish species with the largest number of Anisakis larvae (7.8 larvae/kg fish fillet).

Keywords:

• Fish
• Anisakis simplex
• Pseudoterranova decipiens
• prevalence
• Belgium

Notes

Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.

Instituto di Patologia Generale, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, Milano, Italy.

Correspondence: J. Vercruysse, telephone: [phone];fax: [phone].

Additional information

Notes on contributors

J. Vercruysse

1 3