- A study conducted at the University of Granada has revealed that more than half the mackerels and chub mackerels caught in that region are infected with this parasite.
- The consumption of both species is widespread in Morocco, and a part of the population consumes raw fish, which increases the risk of infection.
University of Granada researchers have found that a high proportion of the fish caught in the northern coast of Morocco is infected with Anisakis the parasite that causes Anisakiasis, which is acquired by eating uncooked fish. The consumption of this fish is widespread among the Moroccan population.
Researchers have analyzed for the first time the prevalence of Anisakis in the fish caught in the northern coast of Morocco, a country where fishing and fish consumption are essential to its economy.
This study has revealed that more than half the mackerels and chub mackerels caught in the northern coast of Morocco are infected with this parasite, though its presence in fish muscles is low. The researchers chose these species as their consumption is widespread in Morocco, and a part of the Moroccan population consumes it uncooked, which can cause an infection.
The results obtained in the study indicated that consuming small chub mackerel is an effective prevention measure against anisakiosis, as the higher the weight, the higher the probability that fish muscles are infected with this parasite.
High Prevalence
The University of Granada researchers found Anisakis in 67.9% of chub mackerels and in 56.8% of mackerels caught in Atlantic waters, and in 57% and 52.8% of chub mackerels and mackerels caught in the Mediterranean Sea.
Genetic identification of the larvae -performed by the PCR-RPLF method- revealed that the prevalent species of Anisakis is A. pegreffii, both in the Mediterranean Sea and in the northern coast of Morocco, while the Anisakis simplex s.s species is poorly represented.
The researchers randomized a sample of subjects from Morocco and found that they were sensitized to Anisakis allergens, though «seroprevalence is low, even among fishermen, who are a high-risk subpopulation» the researchers state.
The author of this research paper is Naima Abattouy, at the University of Granada department of Parasitology, in collaboration with professors Joaquina Martín Sánchez, Adela Valero López and Josefa Lozano Maldonado.
Contact:
Adela Valero López
Department ofParasitology
Teléfono: +34 958 249 594
e-mail address:avalero@ugr.es
