The dangers of eating raw fish

Article Abstract:

Parasites, particularly worms, can be potentially harmful when ingested by humans. During an appendicitis operation, a surgeon removed a worm from the patient's abdomen. Analysis indicated that the worm was a species of nematode, eustrongylides, a parasite of fish-eating birds. The patient admitted to eating sushi and sashimi at least once a month. Only a few other cases of eustrongylidiasis infections have been reported and it is considered to be relatively rare. More commonly, worms from the Anisakidae family are found from eating fish. Other parasites have been isolated from raw salmon and sushi. Usually cooking seafood will kill such organisms, as will freezing for at least five days. Most infections are acquired from fish eaten at home and not from restaurants. Although the probability of raw fish parasite ingestion becoming a problem is unlikely, it is suggested that cooking, processing and examining fish for worms become a common practice.

Author: Schantz, Peter M.
Analysis, Disease transmission, Fishes, Contamination, Sushi, Parasitic diseases, Animal carriers of disease, editorial, Fish as carriers of disease

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Tapeworm infection - the long and the short of it

Article Abstract:

Neurocysticercosis may be more difficult for US doctors to diagnose than for doctors in Latin America or Africa. Neurocysticersosis is an infection of the central nervous system caused by pork tapeworm larvae. It is transmitted in raw or undercooked pork, and it is common among individuals from countries where large amounts are eaten such as Mexico. Neurocysticercosis is most common in southern California, which has one of the largest populations of recent immigrants from Latin America. A tapeworm infection begins with ingestion of tapeworm eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae that migrate to the brain and other organs, and form cysts. Other types of tape worms that can infect humans include dwarf tape worms, fish tape worms and the beef tape worms. Although these types of infections are not common in the US, beef tape worm infections are common in East Africa and Mexico.

Author: Despommier, Dickson D.
Editorial, Diagnosis, Cysticercosis, Cestode diseases, Tapeworm diseases

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