2 research outputs found
The Mediterranean European hake, Merluccius merluccius: Detecting drivers influencing the Anisakis spp. larvae distribution
The European hake Merluccius merluccius is one of the most commercially important and widely distributed fish
species, occurring both in European and Mediterranean Sea fisheries. We analyzed the distribution and infection
rates of different species of Anisakis in M. merluccius (N = 1130 hakes), by site of infection in the fish host
(viscera, dorsal and ventral fillets) from 13 different fishing grounds of the Mediterranean Sea (FAO area 37).
The fillets were examined using the UV-Press method. A large number of Anisakis specimens (N = 877) were
identified by diagnostic allozymes, sequence analysis of the partial EF1 α-1 region of nDNA and mtDNA cox2
gene. Among these, 813 larvae corresponded to A. pegreffii, 62 to A. physeteris, 1 to A. simplex (s. s.), whereas one
resulted as a F1 hybrid between A. pegreffii and A. simplex (s. s.). Remarkably high levels of infection with A.
pegreffii were recorded in hakes from the Adriatic/Ionian Sea compared to the fish of similar length obtained
from the western Mediterranean fishing grounds. A positive correlation between fish length and abundance of A.
pegreffii was observed. Concerning the localization of A. pegreffii larvae in the fish, 28.3% were detected in the
liver, 62.9% in the rest of the viscera, 6.6% in the ventral part of the flesh, whereas 2.1% in the dorsal flesh
A survey of zoonotic nematodes of commercial key fish species from major European fishing grounds-Introducing the FP7 PARASITE exposure assessment study
Harvesting and exploiting limited fisheries resources in a sustainable manner also implies achieving maximum
added value from the raw material. However, the presence of parasites in the products may adversely affect
consumer perception and/or pose a direct health hazard. As a major stepping-stone of the PARASITE project, an
epidemiological survey was carried out to provide the basis for analysis and prediction of consumer exposure risk
due to the presence of anisakid nematodes in fish from European wild-catch fisheries. The project consisted of nine
separate workpackages (WP) where the exposure risk assessment survey was organized within WP2. The surveillance task also provided the data or samples needed for data management and sample storage (WP3, Biobank),
molecular and genetic parasite species identification (WP4), and statistical modelling and inference (WP8). In total
17,760 fish belonging to 16 teleost species were examined for anisakids, with special emphasis on economically
and ecologically important species such as Atlantic mackerel, herring, European hake, Atlantic cod and anchovy.
The target fish species were sampled at four major European fishing areas including the Barents Sea, North Sea,
Baltic Sea, Grand Sole Bank, waters off NW Spain and Portugal, central and western parts of the Mediterranean
Sea, and the Adriatic Sea. Thus, the survey represents the largest and most comprehensive epidemiological data
compilation of anisakids ever generated in terms of geographical range as well as number of fish host species and
sample size. An important requirement of the survey was the use of commonly accepted nematode detection
methods, i.e. the UV-press method or artificial digestion, to quantify infection level and spatial distribution of
anisakid larvae in the target fish species. The basic layout, set-up and principles of the method, along with a
discussion of possible source of errors are described. Additionally, the molecular and genetic markers which were
used to identify and characterize different species and populations of anisakids from the targeted fish host species
and geographical areas, are reviewed as well. Some basic parasite infection characteristics of each fish host
species, and any relationships with the presumably most important infection predictors, i.e. fish host body size and
fishing locality, are presented and discussed. Emphasis is put on anisakid occurrence in the flesh of the fish. Based
on the findings, a graphical exposure risk profile is introduced, including fish species or products thereof, which
due to common processing or preparation practices, are at highest risk to act as source of anisakiasis in Europe