'Cebiche' - a potential source of human anisakiasis in Mexico?

Five fish species used for preparation of a popular dish (cebiche) made wit h raw fish flesh in Mexico were obtained from five localities of the coast of Yucatan. Lutjanus synagris, Gerres cinereus, Sphyraena barracuda, Epinep helus morio and Haemulon plumieriwere examined for the presence of larvae o f anisakid nematodes, causative agents of human anisakiasis. The nematode P seudoterranova sp. was found in E. morio and S. barracuda with a total prev alence of 83% and 6.5 +/- 6.2 worms per fish for E. morio, and a prevalence of 33% and 10.2 +/- 30.0 worms per fish forS. barracuda. Contracaecumsp. w as found to infect G. cinereus with a prevalence of 57% and 7.6 +/- 11.4 wo rms per fish. The relatively high prevalence of Pseudoterranova sp. indicat es that this parasite is a potential causal agent of anisakiasis on the coa st of Yucatan. Although all larvae were found only in the mesentery of the fish host, their importance as a potential source of human infection cannot be excluded as larval migration to the muscles in dead fish is possible.