Anisakis pegreffi etiological agent of gastric infections in two Italian women

Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2009 Nov;6(9):1157-9. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2009.0325.

Abstract

Two cases of gastric anisakiasis have been documented in two Italian women who had consumed raw anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus). The first patient was a 49-year-old woman presenting with epigastric pain and bloody vomiting after ingestion of marinated (vinegar) raw anchovies. During the esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) a white color worm was detected and extracted from cardia by means of biopsy forceps. The second patient was a 59-year-old woman with irritable bowel syndrome and gastritis, who underwent to periodical EGDSs. In the course of the last EGDS, a white color round worm on antrum and a small polyp on the fundus of the stomach were observed. The two nematodes have been identified as L3 larvae of the genus Anisakis by a light microscope, and as Anisakis pegreffi by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The molecular identification of the etiological agent at the species level allows to identify what Anisakidae species play a zoonotic role and which are the fish host species.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anisakiasis / parasitology*
  • Anisakiasis / transmission
  • Anisakis / classification*
  • Anisakis / genetics
  • Anisakis / growth & development
  • Anisakis / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Fishes / parasitology*
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Larva
  • Middle Aged
  • Seafood / parasitology*
  • Stomach Diseases / parasitology*