Anisakid nematodes as possible markers to trace fish products

Abstract

In this work a total of 949 fish samples were analysed for the identification of nematode larvae belonging to the Anisakidae family. Biomolecular application for the identification of Anisakidae larvae can be an optimal instrument for the traceability of fish products, described on the Reg. EC 178/2002. Results confirm a correlation between geographical distribution of fishes and presence of specific Anisakid larvae. FAO 37 zone (Mediterranean sea) showed a prevailing distribution of Anisakis pegreffii and a minimal presence of A. simplex s.s. in hybrid form with Anisakis pegreffii. FAO 27 zone showed a prevailing distribution of A. simplex s.s. in fish like Brosme (Brosme brosme) and infestation prevalence of Pseudoterranova krabbei and P. decipiens s.s. in Gadus morhua. Obtained results validate the hypothesis that molecular biology methods for identifying Anisakidae larvae are effective traceability markers of fish products.

Validation of a Commercial Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay for the Rapid Detection of Anisakis spp. DNA in Processed Fish Products

“…The Anisakidae family includes a vast number of parasites with a worldwide distribution. The life-cycle of Anisakidae nematodes involves invertebrates, fish, cephalopods, and marine mammals so these parasites can be found in the muscles and viscera of numerous fish and cephalopod species [1][2][3][4][5]. In the Mediterranean, the Anisakis spp.…”

“…The fish species mainly involved in the life cycle of Anisakis belong to the pelagic, benthopelagic, and benthodemersal domains. Indeed, the three Anisakis species are widely occurring in pelagic, benthopelagic, and demersal species of the Gadidae, Merlucciidae, Scombridae, Carangidae, and Trichiuridae families [2,7,8]. Anisakis spp.…”

Seasonal trend of Anisakidae infestation in South Mediterranean bluefish

“…However, the ingestion of raw, undercooked fish infected with alive larvae of Anisakis spp., can provoke a zoonosis called Anisakiasis determining gastrointestinal and allergic symptoms (Sakanari and McKerrow 1989;Mazzucco et al 2018). Anisakis and other nematodes belonging to the Anisakidae family are parasites with a worldwide distribution and a complex life cycle which involves several marine organisms at different trophic levels (Mattiucci and Nascetti 2006;Ferrantelli et al 2015;Costa et al 2016;Ferrantelli et al 2014). Basically, a parasite can be used as a suitable ecological tag for fish stock identification when its geographical distribution and life cycle are known, and when the parasite's residence time in the host is long enough compared with the lifespan of the fish host (Catalano et al 2014;Graci et al 2017).…”

Presence of Anisakis pegreffii in farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) commercialized in Southern Italy: A first report

“…Anisakis and other nematodes belonging to the Anisakidae family are parasites with a worldwide distribution and a complex life cycle which involves several marine organisms at different trophic levels (Costa et al, 2016;Ferrantelli et al, 2015;Mattiucci and Nascetti, 2006). Anisakids parasites are of interest for health because of their high zoonotic capability.…”

“…The probability of infection of the wild juvenile fish used as basis for this culture method is still unknown. In Mediterranean, the majority of the wild fish belonged to Italian and Greek coasts are infected with larvae belonging to the A. pegreffii species (Abollo et al, 2003;Chaligiannis et al, 2012;Ferrantelli et al, 2015). Given this, the present work aimed to evaluate the presence of anisakid nematodes in farmed European sea bass produced and commercialized in Southern Italy to obtain a detailed risk assessment on the presence of zoonotic anisakid larvae in farmed fish of Mediterranean.…”