Anisakiasis

**Definition:** A disease caused by an infection with the parasitic worm Anisakis. This disease presents with severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or a hypersensitivity reaction. Transmission is by ingestion of undercooked contaminated fish or squid. Confirmation is by a history of consumption of undercooked fish or squid, or identification of Anisakis in the intestines or in a vomit sample.

**Long definition:** Anisakiasis is a cosmopolitan parasitosis caused by the larvae of nematodes (roundworms) that infect marine mammals. Contamination is due to the ingestion of raw, undercooked, smoked, or home-marinated fish. The disease mainly occurs in Japan and in Northern Europe. Digestive pain and hypereosinophilia direct the diagnosis, which is confirmed by endoscopic, histological, and/or serologic methods. Preventive measures include cooking fish sufficiently or freezing it for at least 24 hrs at -20°C.

**Inclusions:** - Infection due to Anisakis larvae