In Australia and New Zealand (NZ), snapper
Chrysophrys auratus
is known for delicate mild flavoured flesh and is a favoured species to serve raw as sashimi or in sushi. The diet of snapper includes a variety of intermediate hosts of larval nematodes, and as a result, snapper has potential to become highly infected with zoonotic/non-zoonotic nematodes. The aims of this study were to survey nematodes in snapper from Australia and New Zealand waters and to identify nematode species using combined morphological and molecular methods. The zoonotic potential of nematodes identified in this study are discussed. A total of 112 snapper were purchased from the Sydney fish market, New South Wales, Australia. Fish were dissected and only the visceral content and digestive tract were examined for nematode infection. Parasites were initially identified by the microscopic method as four different types belonging to the families Anisakidae (
Anisakis
types I & III, and
Terranova
type II) and Cucullanidae (
Dichelyne
spp.). All Anisakidae nematodes were at infective stages. Species-level identification was actualised through sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS–1, 5.8S, ITS–2) regions. The
Anisakis
types I & III were confirmed as
Anisakis pegreffii
and
A. brevispiculata
, respectively of which
A. pegreffii
is considered globally as a zoonotic nematode. The specific identification of
Terranova
type II and
Dichelyne
spp. was not possible as no comparable sequence data were available in GenBank. The phylogenetic tree clustered
Anisakis
types I & III with
A. pegreffii
and
A. brevispiculata
, respectively;
Terranova
type II sequences as a separate clade with previously identified larval and adult
Terranova
and
Pseudoterranova
species. Based on phylogenetic analyses the present Cucullanid specimens were assigned herein as
Dichelyne
cf.
pleuronectidis
, and an unknown species
Dichelyne
sp. 1. This study represents the first host record globally for zoonotic Anisakid nematodes in this popularly consumed table fish and a new region record for
D.
cf.
pleuronectidis
and
Dichelyne
sp. 1. Further investigation is required, using more comprehensive parasite detection and recovery methods, to assess the health risk these nematodes may pose to human and fish health in Australia/NZ.
