MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF Pseudoterranova azarasi LARVAE IN COD (Gadus sp.) SOLD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN BRAZIL / Identificação molecular de larva de Pseudoterranova azarasi em bacalhau (Gadus sp.) vendido para consumo humano no Brasil

Anisakiasis and Pseudoterranovosis are human diseases caused by the ingestion of live Anisakidae larvae in raw, undercooked or lightly marinated fish. Larvae were collected from one salted cod sold for human consumption in a Sao Paulo market in 2013. One section of one brownish larva was used for molecular analyses. The partial COX2 gene sequence from the larva had a nucleotide identity of 99.8 % with Pseudoterranova azarasi, which belongs to the Pseudoterranova decipiens species complex. The risk of allergy when consuming dead larvae in salted fish is not well known and should be considered.

Os termos Anisakiasis e Pseudoterranovosis são utilizados para doença em humanos causada pela ingestão de larvas vivas de parasitas da Família Anisakidae em peixes crus, mal cozidos ou levemente marinados. As larvas foram coletadas de bacalhau salgado vendido para consumo humano num mercado de São Paulo em 2013. Uma parte da larva de cor castanha foi utilizada em análises moleculares. A sequencia parcial do gene COX2 obtida da larva mostrou 99,8% de identidade de nucleotídeos com Pseudoterranova azarasi, que faz parte do complexo de espécies Pseudoterranova decipiens. O risco de reação alérgica envolvido no consumo de larvas mortas em peixe salgado não é bem conhecido e deve ser considerado.

Pseudoterranovosis y sushi / Pseudoterranovosis and sushi

Se comunica un caso de ingestión accidental de Pseudoterranova decipiens. A raíz de esta paciente se revisan los principales conceptos relativos a esta naciente patología en Chile. El consumo de platos preparados con pescados crudos como el sushi, sashimi, cebiche y mariscal es cada vez más popular. A través de la ingesta de hospederos intermediarios usados en la preparación, se puede adquirir la larva de tercer estadio de Anisakis simplex o P. decipiens. Estos parásitos pueden provocar gastritis aguda que se manifiesta inmediatamente después de consumido el pescado crudo. En ocasiones puede haber compromiso intestinal e invasión del tracto gastrointestinal con manifestaciones en otros órganos. Se asocia a manifestaciones alérgicas como urticaria, angioedema y shock anafiláctico. La larva se elimina en forma espontánea en la mayoría de los casos, pero en otros debe removerse por vía endoscópica. En Chile, es más frecuente la presencia de P. decipiens, que por lo general no migra a la mucosa gástrica, no invade y produce pocos síntomas. Las medidas de prevención son no comer pescados crudos, cocinarlos a temperaturas elevadas o congelación previa a la preparación de los alimentos, para inactivar las larvas.

A case of accidental ingestión of Pseudoterranova decipiens is reported, on account of this patient we review main concepts related to this emerging pathology in Chile. Consumption of raw fish in different preparations such as sushi or sashimi, cebiche and seafood is becoming more and more popular. Through intermediary hosts used in the preparation, one can acquire the third stage larval of Anisakis simplex or P. decipiens. These parasites frequently cause gastritis, acutely after the consumption of raw fish, or more rarely intestinal involvement. It may also cause allergic symptoms such as urticaria, angioedema and anaphylactic shock. The larvae is eliminated spontaneously in most cases; others need to be removed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopio examination. In Chile, the most common species is P. decipiens, which are generally no invasive, rarely migrate beyond the stomach and cause mild or no symptoms. Prevention strategies include avoid eating raw fish or undercooked seafood containing the parasite, to cook food with high temperatures or to freeze raw fish prior to preparation of meals, which inactivates the larvae.