Anisakis, cetaceans, hake and humans: transfers of Anisakis through marine ecosystems

ICES Annual Science Conference 2024, 9-12 September, Gateshead, UK.

Nematodes of the genus Anisakis present in fish represent a human health hazard. Their life cycle involves the transfer of eggs and larvae through the marine food web. We explored the role of the final hosts, i.e. cetaceans, and the possible effects of management interventions, e.g. the destruction of Anisakis prior to discarding of fish offal at sea, on the flow of Anisakis spp. through the marine food web, based on an Ecopath with Ecosim model, testing the use of the Ecotracer tool to represent parasite flow. We collected data on the abundance of larval and adult Anisakis numbers in cetacean digestive tracts and the number of Anisakis eggs found in cetacean faeces, as well as indications of impacts of Anisakis on cetacean health (e.g. gastric ulcers). Data on the abundance of Anisakis in various fish species eaten by both cetaceans and humans (e.g. hake, blue whiting, sardine), considering variations in parasite burden in relation to fish size, were sourced from the EU PARASITE project. The Ecopath model was based on an existing model for the Iberian Peninsula. Daily food requirements for cetaceans were based on literature values. Simulations were used to explore the consequences of plausible management interventions on the flow of Anisakis through the system and consequences for the risk of exposure of human consumers to this parasite

Peer reviewed