[Infection status of anisakid larvae in anchovies purchased from local fishery market near southern and eastern sea in Korea]

Abstract

A survey was carried out on the larval anisakis in anchovies (Engrauris japonica) which were caught from April to June in 1993 at the southern and eastern sea in Korea. Anisakids in anchovies were morphological classified into Anisakis type I and II and Contracaecum type B and C, after fixation in 70% alcohol and clearing in lactophenol. A total of 171 larval anisakids were collected from 150 anchovies (6.9%) out of 2,180 examined. The infection rates showed no relation with length of the anchovies. The numbers of anisakids by organs of anchovies were 96 (56.1%) from the muscle, 65 (38.0%) from the omentum, 7 (4.1%) from the intestine, 2 (1.7%) from the stomach and 1 (0.6%) from the testis. Infection rates of anchovies with anisakids by localities were 5.1% at Taebyon, 8.0% at Sokcho and 9.2% at Chungmu. The larval anisakids in anchovies may infect humans who often eat raw anchovies.