Health Canada
www.hc-sc.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Isolation and Identification of Anisakid Roundworm Larvae in Fish
3.2 Larvae of Public Health Importance
The larvae of two anisakid roundworms, Anisakis simplex (herring worm), and Pseudoterranova decipiens (seal worm), have been implicated in the majority of human infections. The infective larval stage may be found on the viscera or in the flesh of a number of commercially important fish species, including salmon, cod, herring, and mackerel (10.11), and also in squid (10.7). P. decipiens is also found in smelt and various flatfish
(10.2, 10.10). Two other anisakid roundworms, Contracaecum osculatum and Phocascaris sp., have also been identified in commercially important fishes and may be of public health concern (10.1, 10.12).
4. Materials and Special Equipment
4.1 Candling
4.1.1 candling light table as described below
4.1.2 forceps and culture dish containing normal saline (0.85 g NaCl per 100 mL distilled water)
4.2 Ultraviolet Light Irradiation
4.2.1 hand-held or fixed ultraviolet light illuminator
4.2.2 face-shield or goggles (UV light resistant)
4.2.3 forceps and culture dish containing normal saline
4.3 Elution
4.3.1 U.S. Standard No. 4 sieve (or similar sized kitchen sieve)
4.3.2 large funnel (500 mL or larger) or other vessel
4.3.3 clear, flexible tubing and tubing clamp
4.3.4 ring clamp with support rod and base
4.3.5 normal saline
4.3.6 plastic wrap or aluminum foil
4.3.7 large beaker
4.3.8 stereoscopic microscope or magnifier
4.3.9 forceps and culture dish containing normal saline
4.4 Digestion
4.4.1 pepsin solution [15 g pepsin (1:10,000; Sigma Chemical Co.) dissolved in 750 mL normal saline]
4.4.2 1.5 L beaker
4.4.3 shaking water bath (37/C), or bath with mechanical stirrer
4.4.4 pH meter, or pH paper, and 6 N HCl
4.4.5 aluminum foil
4.4.6 U.S. Standard No. 18 sieve (or similar sized kitchen sieve)
4.4.7 large container to hold the sieve for collection of sieved material, or US Standard No. 140 sieve
4.4.8 normal saline to rinse sieve
4.4.9 funnel apparatus as described for elution
4.4.10 stereoscopic microscope or magnifier
4.4.11 forceps and culture dish containing normal saline
