Anisakid nematodes of interest in public health in fishes commercialized in Valdivia, Chile

In Chile, infection by Anisakid nematodes has been reported in humans assoc iated with raw ("cebiche") and smoked marine fishes consumption. During 199 4, 125 fresh marine fishes commercialized in markets from Valdivia, Chile, were microscopically examined for anisakids in the musculature. From the 10 species examined the following fish species were infected (n(o) of infecte d/examined fishes) with Anisakis simplex (As), Pseudoterranova decipiens (P d) and Hysterothylacium sp. (H sp.): the Chilean hake, Merluccius gayi (As 1/ 17; Pd 4/17), the tail-bake, Macrouronus magellanicus (Pd 1/4; H sp. 1/4 ), the red-conger-eel, Genypterus chilensis (Pd 9/18), the flat-fish, Paral ichthys microps (As 1/10; Pd 7/10) and the Chilean mackerel, Trachurus murp hyi (As 2/16; Pd 5/16). All isolated anisakid larvae were alive. The highes t number of anisakid per fish (4 larvae) was detected in M. gayi and T. mur phyi but the highest density, 3.3 worms/100 g of muscles, was observed in P . microps. The number of parasites was scarce, but their presence in the co mmercialized fishes in Valdivia, without freezing or sanitary inspection re presents a potential risk.