Microbiology
A helminth (Review). Not to be worn when riding a motorcycle. Anisakis simplex, Contracaecum, and Pseudoterranova decipiens.
Epidemiologic Risks
Eating undercooked fish.
A. simplex complex: Japan, Spain (second-highest reported incidence from marinated anchovies) (Pubmed) the Netherlands, northern Europe, United States, Korea.
Pacific salmon, herring, anchovies, scad, hake, mackerel sushi, sashimi, salted or smoked herring, gravlax, boquerones, Hawaiian lomi-lomi, ceviche.
P. decipiens complex: United States, Canada Japan, Korea, Chile, Atlantic and Pacific cod, Ceviche, Pacific halibut, red snapper, hake.
Syndromes
Eosinophilic gastroenteritis after eating undercooked fish with abdominal pain, nausea & vomiting, abdominal distention, diarrhea, bloody and mucousy stool, with mild fever.
4 major clinical syndromes: gastric, intestinal, ectopic (or extra-gastrointestinal), and allergic disease.
Treatment
Self-limited in about two weeks, plucking out the worms endoscopically can (?) hasten healing; occasionally it is chronic.
Maybe albendazole 400–800 mg daily for 6–21 days.
Notes
Cooking and freezing will kill it. Me? I love sushi.
Last update: 07/02/19