[Human anisakiasis: 5 cases in northern France]

Abstract

We report 5 cases of human anisakiasis revealed respectively by an acute intestinal obstruction due to multiple small bowel stenosis, an acute inflammatory ileitis simulating appendicitis, ulcer type epigastralgia, purulent peritonitis and a latent small bowel tumor. Diagnosis was established in 4 cases on microscopic analysis of bowel specimens (eosinophilic granulomas and/or parasitic fragments) and in 1 case at gastroscopy. Serodiagnosis was positive in 2 of 4 cases and the consumption undercooked fishes was found in 4. In small samples we estimated the infestation (1 to 50 parasites) by anisakis larvae of 3 fish species: 80 p. 100 for herrings, 63 p. 100 for mackerels and 100 p. 100 for whitings. This work emphasizes the role of anisakiasis as a source of digestive symptoms and intestinal eosinophilic granuloma.