Skip to main content

The Life Cycle of Anisakis simplex: A Review

  • Chapter
Intestinal Anisakiasis in Japan

Abstract

Anisakis simplex (Rudolphi, 1809, det. Krabbe, 1878) in its larval stage is a common nematode parasite of marine fish, with the adult parasite widely distributed in marine mammals, particularly in colder temperate and polar waters [1].This parasite causes eosinophilic granuloma in the alimentary tract of man when raw or inadequately cooked fish with live larvae are ingested [2,3]. To determine its medical significance with regard to human infection, called “anisakiasis” or “anisakiosis”, various aspects of the parasite have been studied to date. This review focuses on the life cycle of A. simplex (Fig. 1), based on information from surveys which were conducted mainly in the North Pacific Ocean and North Sea.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Davey JT (1971) A revision of the genus Anisakis Dujardin, 1845 (Nematoda: Ascari-data). J Helminthol 45: 51–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Oshima T (1972) Anisakis and anisakiasis in Japan and adjacent area. In: Morishita K, Komia Y, Matsubayashi H (eds) Progress of medical parasitology in Japan, Vol 4. Meguro Parasitological Museum, Tokyo, pp 301–393

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ishikura H and Namiki M (eds) (1989) Gastric anisakiasis in Japan: epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment. Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, 1–144

    Google Scholar 

  4. Nascetti G, Paggi L, Orecchia P, Mattiucci S, Bullini L (1981) Divergenza genetica in popolazioni del genere Anisakis del Mediterraneo. Parassitologia 23: 208–210

    Google Scholar 

  5. Nascetti G, Paggi L, Orecchia P, Mattiucci S, Bullini L (1983) Two sibling species within Anisakis simplex (Ascaridida: Anisakidae). Parassitologia 25: 306–307

    Google Scholar 

  6. Nascetti G, Paggi L, Orecchia P, Smith JW, Mattiucci S, Bullini L (1986) Electrophoretic studies on the Anisakis simplex complex (Ascaridida: Anisakidae) from the Mediterranean and North-East Atlantic. Int J Parasitol 16: 633–640

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Orecchia P, Paggi L, Mattiucci S, Smith JW, Nascetti G, Bullini L (1986) Electrophoretic identification of larvae and adults of Anisakis (Ascaridida: Anisakidae). J Helminthol 60: 331–339

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Berland B (1961) Nematodes from some Norwegian marine fishes. Sarsia 2: 1–50

    Google Scholar 

  9. Koyama T, Kobayashi A, Kumada M, Komiya Y, Oshima T, Kagei N, Ishii T, Machida M (1969) Morphological and taxonomical studies on Anisakidae larvae found in marine fishes and squids. Jpn J Parasitol 18: 466–487 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Shiraki T (1974) Larval nematodes of family Anisakidae (Nematoda) in the northern sea of Japan–as a causative agent of eosinophlic phlegmone or granuloma in the human gastro-intestinal tract. Acta Med Biol 22: 57–98

    Google Scholar 

  11. Beverley-Burton M, Nyman OL, Pippy JHC (1977) The morphology, and some observations on the population genetics of Anisakis simplex larvae (Nematoda: Ascaridata) from fishes of the North Atlantic. J Fish Res Board Can 34: 105–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Banning P Van (1971) Some notes on a successful rearing of the herring-worm Anisakis marina L. (Nematoda: Heterocheilidae). J Cons Int Explor Mer 34: 84–88

    Google Scholar 

  13. Pippy JHC, Banning P van (1975) Identification of Anisakis larvae (I) as Anisakis simplex (Rudolphi, 1809, det. Krabbe 1878) (Nematoda: Ascaridata) J Fish Res Board Can 32: 29–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Grabda J (1976) Studies on the life cycle and morphogenesis of Anisakis simplex (Rudolphi, 1809) (Nematoda: Anisakidae) cultured in vitro. Acta Ichthyol Piscat 6:119–141

    Google Scholar 

  15. Carvajal J, Barros C, Santander G, Alcalde C (1981) In vitro culture of larval anisakid parasites of the Chilean hake Merluccius gayi. J Parasitol 67: 958–959

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Oshima T, Oya S, Wakai R (1982) In vitro cultivation of Anisakis Type I and Type II larvae collected from fishes caught in Japanese coastal waters and their identification. Jpn J Parasitol 31: 131–134

    Google Scholar 

  17. Hurst RJ (1984) Identification and description of larval Anisakis simplex and Pseudoterranova decipiens (Anisakidae: Nematoda) from New Zealand waters. New Zeal J Mar Freshw Res 18: 177–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Shimazu T (1974) I. Larvae of Anisakinae. 2. Ecology. Jpn Soc Sci Fish (ed) Fish and Anisakis, Fish Sci Ser 7. Koseisha Koseikaku, Tokyo, pp 23–43 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Smith JW, Wooten R (1978) Anisakis and anisakiasis. Lumsden WHR, Muller R, Baker JR (eds) Advances in parasitology, Vo1 16. Academic Press, London, pp 93–163

    Google Scholar 

  20. Uspenskaya AV (1963) Parasite fauna of benthic crustaceans from the Barents Sea. Izdatel’stvo Akademiya Nauk SSSR, Moscow and Leningrad, 127 pp (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Smith JW (1971) Thysanoessa inermis and T. longicaudata (Euphausiidae) as first intermediate hosts of Anisakis sp. (Nematoda: Ascaridata) in the northern North Sea, to the north of Scotland and at Faroe. Nature 234: 478

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Smith JW (1983) Larval Anisakis simplex (Rudolphi, 1809, det. Krabbe, 1878) and larval Hysterothylacium sp. (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in euphausiids (Crustacea: Malacostraca) in the North-East Atlantic and northern North Sea. J Helminthol 57: 167–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Smith JW (1983) Anisakis simplex (Rudolphi, 1809, det. Krabbe, 1878) (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea): morphology and morphometry of larvae from euphausiids and fish, and a review of the 1ife-history and ecology. J Helminthol 57: 205–224

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Sluiters JF (1974) Anisakis sp. larvae in the stomachs of herring (Clupea harengus L.). Z Parasitenk 44: 279–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Oshima T, Shimazu T, Koyama H, Akahane H (1969) On the larvae of the genus Anisakis (Nematoda:Anisakidae) from the euphausiids. Jpn J Parasitol 18: 241–248 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Shimazu T, Oshima T (1972) Some larval nematodes from euphausiid crustaceans. In: Takenouti Y et al. (eds) Biological oceanography of the northern North Pacific Ocean dedicated to Shigeru Motoda, Idemitsu Shoten, Tokyo, pp 403–409

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kagei N (1974) Studies on anisakid Nematoda (Anisakidae) (IV). Survey of Anisakis larvae in the marine Crustacea. Bull Inst Publ Health 23: 65–71 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kagei N (1979) Euphausiids and their parasites (I). Geiken Tsushin (328): 53–62 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Shimazu T (1982) Some helminth parasites of marine planktonic invertebrates. J Nagano-ken Junior Coll 37: 11–29

    Google Scholar 

  30. Shiraki T, Hasegawa H, Kenmotsu M, Otsuru M (1976) Larval anisakid nematodes from prawns, Pandalus spp. Jpn J Parasitol 25: 148–152

    Google Scholar 

  31. Hurst RJ (1984) Marine invertebrate hosts of New Zealand Anisakidae (Nematoda). New Zeal J Mar Freshw Res 18: 187–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Oshima T (1969) A study on the first intermediate hosts of Anisakis. Saishin Igaku 24: 401–404 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Nagasawa K (1990) Anisakis larvae in intermediate and paratenic hosts in Japan. Ishikura H, Kikuchi K (eds) Intestinal anisakiasis in Japan. Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, pp. 23–29

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  34. Kagei N (1969) Life history of nematodes of the genus Anisakis. Saishin Igaku 24: 389–400 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Kagei N (1970) List of the larvae of Anisakis spp. recorded from marine fishes and squids caught off the Japan and its adjacent islands. Bull Inst Publ Health 19: 76–85

    Google Scholar 

  36. Kagei N (1974) A list of fish infected with larval nematodes of the subfamily Anisa- kinae. Jpn Soc Sci Fish (ed) Fish and Anisakis, Fish Sci Ser 7. Koseisha Kosei- kaku, Tokyo, pp. 98–107 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Khalil LF (1969) Larval nematodes in the herring (Clupea harengus ) from British coastal waters and adjacent territories. J Mar Biol Assoc U K 49: 641–659

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Davey JT (1972) The incidence of Anisakis sp. larvae (Nematoda: Ascaridata) in the commercially exploited stocks of herring (Clupea harengus L., 1758) (Pisces: Clupeidae) in British and adjacent waters. J Fish Biol 4: 535–554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Grabda J (1974) The dynamics of the nematode larvae, Anisakis simplex (Rud.) invasion in the south-western Baltic herring (Clupea harengus L.) Acta Ichthyol Piscat 4: 3–21

    Google Scholar 

  40. Smith JW, Wootten R (1975) Experimental studies on the migration of Anisakis sp. larvae (Nematoda: Ascaridida) into the flesh of herring, Clupea harengus L. Int J Parasitol 5: 133–136

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Banning P van, Becker HB (1978) Long-term survey data (1965–1972) on the occurrence of Anisakis larvae (Nematoda: Ascaridida) in herring, Clupea harengus L., from the North Sea. J Fish Biol 12: 25–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Beverley-Burton M, Pippy JHC (1977) Morphometric variations among larval Anisa- kis simplex (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) from fishes of the North Atlantic and their use as biological indicators of host stocks. Env Biol Fish 2: 309–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Grabda J (1983) Studies on viability and infectivity of Anisakis simplex stage III larvae in fresh salted and spiced Baltic herring. Acta Ichthyol Piscat 8: 117–129

    Google Scholar 

  44. Threlfall W (1982) In vitro culture of Anisakis spp. larvae from fish and squid in Newfoundland. Proc Helminthol Soc Wash 49: 65–70

    Google Scholar 

  45. McGladdery SE, Burt MDB (1985) Potential of parasites for use as biological indica- tors of migration, feeding, and spawning behaviour of northwestern Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus ). Can J Fish Aquat Sci 42: 1957–1968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. McGladdery SE (1986) Anisakis simplex (Nematoda: Anisakidae) infection of the musculature and body cavity of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus harengus ). Can J Fish Aquat Sci 43: 1312–1317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Bishop YMM, Margolis L (1955) A statistical examination of Anisakis larvae (Nema- toda) in herring (Clupea pallasi ) of the British Columbia coast. J Fish Res Board Can 12: 571–592

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Hauck AK (1977) Occurrence and survival of the larval nematode Anisakis sp. in the flesh of fresh, frozen, brined, and smoked Pacific herring, Clupea harengus pallasi. J Parasitol 63: 515–519

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Nyman OL, Pippy JHC (1972) Differences in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, from North America and Europe. J Fish Res Board Can 29: 179–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Beverley-Burton M, Pippy JHC (1978) Distribution, prevalence and mean numbers of larval Anisakis simplex (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. and their use as biological indicators of host stocks. Env Biol Fish 3: 211- 222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Beverley-Burton M (1978) Population genetics of Anisakis simplex (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar ) and their use as biological indicators of host stocks. Env Biol Fish 3: 369–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Pippy JHC (1980) The value of parasites as biological tags in Atlantic salmon at West Greenland. Rapp P-v Reun Cons Int Explor Mer 176: 76–81

    Google Scholar 

  53. Stern JA, Chakravarti D, Uzmann JR, Hesselholt MN (1958) Rapid counting of Nematoda in salmon by peptic digestion. US Fish Wildlife Service, Spec Sci Rep-Fisheries No 255.5 pp

    Google Scholar 

  54. Novotny AJ, Uzmann JR (1960) A statistical analysis of the distribution of a larval nematode (Anisakis sp.) in the musculature of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta Walbaum). Exp Parasitol10: 215–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Urawa S (1986) The parasites of salmonid fishes-II. The biology of anisakid nematodes and the prevention of their human infections. Fish and Eggs (156): 52–70 (in J apanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  56. Deardorff TL, Throm R (1988) Commercial blast-freezing of third-stage Anisakis simplex larvae encapsulated in salmon and rockfish. J Parasitol 74: 600–603

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Young PC (1972) The relationship between the presence of larval anisakine nematodes in cod and marine mammals in British home waters. J Appl Ecol 9: 459–485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Wootten R, Waddell IF (1977) Studies on the biology of larval nematodes from the musculature of cod whiting in Scottish waters. J Conc Int Explor Mer 37: 266–273

    Google Scholar 

  59. Wootten R (1978) The occurrence of larval anisakid nematodes in small gadoids from Scottish waters. J Mar Biol Assoc U K 58: 347–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Hauksson E (1984) Prevalence and abundance of larvae of Phocanema decipiens (Krabbe) and Anisakis sp. (Nematoda, Ascaridata) in cod (Gadus morhua L.) from Icelandic waters. Hafrannsoknir 30: 5–26 (in Icelandic with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  61. Arthur JR, Margolis L, Whitaker DJ, McDonald TE (1982) A quantitative study of economically important parasites of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma ) from British Columbian waters and effects of postmortem handling on their abundance in the musculature. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 39: 710–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Sasaki, M (1973) Survey of parasites of the Alaska pollock, Theragra chalcogramma. J Hokkaido Fish Exp St (Hokusuishi Geppo) 30: 14–39 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  63. Suzuki M, Oishi K (1974) III. Infection of fish. 9. Parasites of walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma. Jpn Soc Sci Fish (ed) Fish and Anisakis, Fish Sci Ser 7. Koseisha Koseikaku, Tokyo, pp 113–125 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  64. Carvajal J, Cattan PE, Castillo C, Schatte P (1979) Larval anisakids and other helminthes in the hake, Merluccius gayi (Guichenot) from Chile. J Fish Biol 15: 671–677

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Cattan PE, Carvajal J (1984) A study of the migration of larval Anisakis simplex (Nematoda: Ascaridida) in the Chilean hake, Merluccius gayi (Guichenot). J Fish Biol 24: 649–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Kosugi K (1972) Seasonal ftuctuation of the infestation with the larvae of Anisakis and of related species of nematodes in the fishes from Sagami Bay. Yokohama Med J 23: 285–316 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  67. Smith JW (1984) Larval ascaridoid nematodes in myopsid and oegopsid cephalopods from around Scotland and in the northern North Sea. J Mar Biol Assoc U K 64:563–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Smith JW (1974) Experimental transfer of Anisakis sp. larvae (Nematoda: Ascaridida) from one fish host to another. J Helminthol 48: 229–234

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Smith JW (1984) The abundance of Anisakis simplex L3 in the body-cavity and ftesh of marine teleosts. Int J Parasitol 14: 491–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. Dailey MD, Brownell RL, Jr (1972) A checklist of marine mammal parasites. In:Ridgway SH (ed) Mammals of the sea. Biology and medicine. Charles C Thomas,Springfield, Illinois, USA, pp 528–589

    Google Scholar 

  71. Machida M (1969) Parasitic nematodes in the stomach of northern fur seals caught in the western Pacific, off the coast of northern Japan. Jpn J Parasitol 18: 575–579 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  72. Machida M (1971) Survey on gastric nematodes of the northern fur seal on breeding islands. Jpn J Parasitol 20: 371–378 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  73. Kagei N, Kureha K (1970) Studies on anisakid Nematoda (Anisakinae) (I). Survey of Anisakis sp. in marine mammals collected in the Antarctic Ocean. Bull Inst Public Health 19: 193–196 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  74. Kagei N, Asano K, Kihata M (1978) On the examination against the parasites of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Sci Rep Whales Res Inst 30: 311–313.

    Google Scholar 

  75. Kagei N, Oshima T, Kobayashi A, Kumada M, Koyama T Komiya Y, Takemura A (1967) Survey of Anisakis spp. (Anisakinae, Nematoda) in marine mammals on the coast of Japan. Jpn J Parasitol 16: 427–435 (in Japanese with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1990 Springer-Verlag Tokyo

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Nagasawa, K. (1990). The Life Cycle of Anisakis simplex: A Review. In: Ishikura, H., Kikuchi, K. (eds) Intestinal Anisakiasis in Japan. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68299-8_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68299-8_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-68301-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-68299-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics