Anisakid parasites of the pouting (Trisopterus luscus) from the Cantabrian Sea coast, Bay of Biscay, Spain.

An epidemiological survey was undertaken of anisakids in 139 specimens (length: 13.2-24.5 cm) of pouting or bib (Trisopterus luscus) captured off the coast of northern Spain in the Cantabrian Sea. Third-stage larvae of two species of nematodes, Anisakis larvae type I and Hysterothylacium aduncum, were isolated. One adult female H. aduncum was also detected in the intestine of one pouting. Total prevalence of anisakids was 88.5%. Hysterothylacium aduncum and Anisakis showed, respectively, prevalence of 87.8% and 22.3%, mean intensity of 19.7 and 3.5, and mean abundance of 17.3 and 0.8. Analysis of infection parameters as a function of host length revealed a much higher prevalence in pouting specimens with length < 20 cm (94.4% for H. aduncum; 28.0% for Anisakis) than in those with length > or = 20 cm (65.6% for H. aduncum; 3.1% for Anisakis). The high mean intensity of Anisakis in muscle of parasitized pouting (5.9) may pose human health risks, although these are minimized by eating only thoroughly cooked pouting, as is the custom in Spain.