Anisakis simplex, known as the herring worm, is a species of nematode in the genus Anisakis. Like other nematodes, it infects and settles in the organs of marine animals, such as salmon, mackerels and squids.[2][3] It is commonly found in cold marine waters, such as the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.[4][5]
This species begins as an egg found in the feces of its host, and hatches as a second-stage larva in the ocean, where it survives for several days.[4] This larva is then consumed by an intermediate host, usually a krill, and it develops into a third stage larva within the body of this intermediate host.[4] The krill is then ingested by a predator, such as squid or fish, which act as the paratenic host for A. simplex.[4] The worm reaches the end of its life cycle when the paratenic host is ingested by a whale or another marine mammal.[4] In the abdominal cavity of this final host, A. simplex develops into a fully mature worm and reproduces to form eggs, which are then expelled from the body of the final host.[4]
A. simplex generally possesses digestive and excretory organs, such as an oesophagus and intestine.[6] However, its morphological structure changes as it develops from one life stage to another.[6] When it is fully mature, it has defined lip structures, a regularly patterned outer surface, and fully developed reproductive organs.[6]
The consumption of raw or undercooked seafood, such as sashimi and ceviche, puts humans at risk for developing an infection or allergic reaction caused by A. simplex.[3][5] The worm can infect the stomach or intestine by lodging itself within the walls of the organ and producing digestive enzymes to penetrate mucus layers.[3] It occasionally pierces through the wall completely and travels in the abdominal cavity.[3] Acute symptoms, such as abdominal cramps, nausea and diarrhoea, arise hours after ingestion.[3][7][8] The infection can be chronic if not treated. Treatment involves removal of the worm by endoscopy or surgery.[7]
^Rudolphi, Carolo Asmundo (1809). "Ascaris simplex R.". Animadversiones in generaet species entozoorum. Entozoorum, sive vermium intestinalium: Historia naturalis. 2. Amstelaedami: Taberna Libraria et Artium. p. 170.
^Cite error: The named reference Gang & Hallem, 2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abcdeCite error: The named reference Audicana et al., 2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abcdefCite error: The named reference Nagasawa, 1990 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abCite error: The named reference Ritter, 2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abcCite error: The named reference Ishii et al., 1989 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abCite error: The named reference CDC, 2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Pravettoni, V., Primavesi, L., & Piantanida, M. (2012). Anisakis simplex: current knowledge. European Annals of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 44(4), 150–156.
Anisakissimplex, known as the herring worm, is a species of nematode in the genus Anisakis. Like other nematodes, it infects and settles in the organs...
new subgenus, Ascaris (Anisakis) distans Rudolphi, 1809 and Ascaris (Anisakis) simplex Rudolphi, 1809.[citation needed] Anisakis species have complex life...
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Safety Deardorff, TL; ML Kent (1 July 1989). "Prevalence of larval Anisakissimplex in pen-reared and wild-caught salmon (Salmonidae) from Puget Sound...
food to another. The food-borne parasite Anisakis is a genus of nematodes known to be present in squid. Anisakis are directly infective to humans whenever...
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species from the genus Contracaecum in their stomachs and intestines, Anisakissimplex in their stomachs, Pharurus pallasii in their ear canals, Hadwenius...
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sinensis (a trematode/fluke), Anisakis (a nematode/roundworm) and Diphyllobothrium (a cestode/tapeworm). Infection risk of Anisakis is particularly high in...
nematodes in the kidneys (Crassicauda sp., California) and stomach (Anisakissimplex, nearly 60% of whales taken off California), and flukes (Lecithodesmus...
its skin. All individuals sampled were infected with the nematode Anisakissimplex in their stomachs (sometimes their small intestine) and the acanthocephalan...
mysterious mass in her colon that turns out to be made of decaying Anisakissimplex worms that she became infected with by eating raw salmon in sushi....
found three nematodes in the stomach lumen. One could be identified as Anisakissimplex L3, while another may have been a larval Raphidascaris. A powerful...
Lacistorhynchus tenuis, and Phyllobothrium squali, and the nematodes Anisakissimplex and Hysterothylacium aduncum. Some of these parasites use the velvet...
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