Prevalence of Anisakid Larvae in Marine Fishes Sold in Shenzhen, China

The aim of the present investigation was to examine the prevalence of anisakid larvae in marine fishes sold in Shenzhen in March to November 2008. A total of 394 individual fishes representing 40 fish species were obtained from different wholesale markets. They were examined for the presence of anisakid larvae by examination of the viscera and whole body cavity. About 23 species of fish (57.5%, 23/40) namely Decapterus maruadsi, Harpodon nehereus, Muraenesox cinereus, Trichiurus haumela, Pneumatophorus japonicus, Sebastods schlegeli and so on were found to be infected with anisakid larvae with an overall infection rate of 31.0% (122/394). The results of present investigation demonstrated the risk of human infection with anisakid larvae in Shenzhen, China which have implications for implementing control strategies against anisakid infection in humans in China.