Distribution of Anisakis simplex in fish caught in the Ligurian Sea.

A total of 822 individuals of 5 fish species were sampled in the western coastal area of the Mediterranean Sea and examined for the presence of Anisakis simplex larvae in the body cavity, muscle, and viscera. A. simplex mean intensity (mI) and prevalence (Pr) values were very high in the common scad (Trachurus trachurus; Pr 80-100%, mI 19.3-36.8) and the blue scad (T. picturatus; Pr 80-100%, mI 18.2-70.7), moderate in the blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), and low in the red mullet (Mullus barbatus) and the striped mullet (M. surmuletus). The larval burden was strongly related to host length in the common and blue scad.