Fishborne zoonotic parasites and aquaculture: A review

A large number of parasites infect fish but only a few cause illnesses in humans. Due to their high incidence the following helminth families deserve particular attention: Opisthorchiidae and Heterophyidae (Class Trematodea, subclass Digenea), Anisakidae and Gnathostomidae (Phylum Nematoda), and Diphyllobothridae (Class Cestoda). Humans acquire these fishborne parasitic zoonoses through the consumption of infected raw, undercooked, or inadequately preserved fish. Though the transmission of these parasites through fish caught in the wild has been well documented, the association between cultured fish and human parasitic illness has for long been neglected and it is only recently, during the last 10-15 years, that this association has gained increased consideration. This review summarizes and considers this recent evidence linking fish farming to human pathogenic parasites, and discusses the need and opportunities for prevention and control of these zoonoses. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.