New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Anisakis (Nematoda) in some New Zealand inshore fish

D. A. WHARTON
M. -L. HASSALL
O. AALDERS

Department of Zoology
University of Otago
P. O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
email: david.wharton@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

Abstract  The prevalence, intensity, abundance, and density of Anisakis larval infection of four species of New Zealand fish and one species of squid were determined. In order of intensity of infection these were: barracouta (Thyristes atun), tarakihi (Nemadactylus macropterus), red cod (Pseudophycis bachus), red gurnard (Chelidonichthys kumu), and arrow squid (Nototodarus solanii). Some data on infections in monkfish (Kathetostoma giganteum) are also presented. There was no evidence of post-mortem migration of larvae in red cod, red gurnard, or barracouta. The larvae did excapsulate post-mortem and the excapsulation was less in fish kept on ice. The majority of larvae were associated with the visceral organs and membranes (98.5% or more of the total worm burden). However, a proportion of all fish species examined had small numbers of larvae in the fillets and these may pose a risk to human health.

Keywords  Anisakis; fish; New Zealand; survey; prevalence; intensity; fillet infections; migration

M98057
Received 13 August 1998; accepted 18 June 1999

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (462K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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