Fish Parasitic infection (Clonorchiasis, Anisakiasis, and Diphyllobothriasis)

If I were asked to pick one of either fish or beef to consume for a week, I will gladly go for fish, and I am sure that a lot of us will go for fish (sincerely, I like beef, but I will prefer fish). Fish is no doubt a healthy food to eat, and it is advisable to eat at least 12 ounces of fish (two average meals) a week. It is advisable that we eat up to this amount because fish provides the body with many nutrients, and a good source of Omega-3 fatty acid, especially with fishes such as Mackerel, Salmon, Tuna, Trout, Sardine, Sprats, and Herring, are good sources. On the brighter side, eating fish is said to help reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke, since Omega-3 reduces the level of triglycerides, and reduce the growth of plagues in the artery. Basically, the heart is being protected and cared or when people eat fish, also, vitamin B12 in fish helps in the production of red blood cell. Fish which is a good source of nutrients such as Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Iron, Phosphorous, and Niacin (vitamin B3) makes it a very good food for the body.

While Fish is very beneficial, it should be clear that fishes could be home to parasites that could infect humans if ingested. Fishes serve as intermediate host to the organisms, and humans could get them when they eat the fishes, uncooked, or not properly cooked. Parasitic infection that can be gotten from fish includes Clonorchiasis, Anisakiasis, and Diphyllobothriasis.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lernaea_parasite_on_a_Murray_cod

Clonorchiasis
Clonorchiasis is a Chinese liver fluke disease caused by trematode Clonorchis sinensis. According to a 2004 analysis, about 15 million people were infected with Clonorchiasis, with 85% of that number from China. The Trematode can be carried by fish as an intermidiate host, and when ingested by humans, either via uncooked, or poorly cooked fish, causes Clonorchiasis. Incubation period for Clonorchiasis is 10 to 30 days, and patients begin to show signs and symptoms. These signs and symptoms include liver problem in chronic conditions, pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, caused by obstruction of the gallbladder, jaundice, and fever.

Diagnosis include parasitological examination via microscopic examination of the stool to find egg or duodenal content. Other tests are polymerase chain reaction test, and abdominal x-ray to identify intrahepatic calcification. Treatment and management includes the use of Praziquantel, surgery in cases of Biliary obstruction.

Anisakiasis
Anisakiasis is a disease caused by the roundworm genera Anisakis and Pseudoterranova, with species of Anisakis pegreffii, Anisakis berlandi, Pseudoterranova decipiens and Contracecum osculatum. Humans get this parasite from fishes (tuna, mackerel, hake, cod, and sardines). Symptoms of Anisakiasis which includes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blood and/or mucus in stool, can begin a few hours after ingesting the larva. It often affects the gastrointestinal system, but could become more invasive as it affects other tissues, which happens in rare cases.

Diagnoses of Anisakiasis would be Upper endoscopy. In this case, a stool test isn't helpful. After diagnosis, endoscopic removal, in cases where minimally invasion is required, and surgery in cases where invasive removal is needed.

Diphyllobothriasis

Diphyllobothriasis is gotten from Fish Tapeworm Diphyllobothrium latum, but can also be gotten from other species such as Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense, Diphyllobothrium dendriticum, Diphyllobothrium stemmacephalum, Diplogonoporus grandis and Diphyllobothrium pacificum although research are still ongoing on some of these species. While some patients with Diphyllobothriasis can be asymptomatic and have the infection for close to 25 years, symptomatic patients can begin to manifest signs and symptoms in about 2 to 6 weeks. These signs and symptoms would include abdominal pain and cramp, Anal Pruritus, Diarrhea and passage of proglottids, and in severe cases, vitamin B12 deficiency, including anemia, encephalopathy, weakness, Hyporeflexia, and unintended weight loss.

Diagnosing Diphyllobothriasis will include microscopic examination of stool to reveal egg and proglottids. Also, Eosinophilia could be detected in the test. Additionally, since patients may start to have vitamin B12 deficiency, Megaloblastic anemia could be detected. Treatment will include the use of Praziquantel, which is used to treat worm infection, preventing eggs and lavae from hatching and growing, as well as causing spasm in the tapeworm, thereby causing it to be passed out with stool.

Prevention of these parasitic infections from fish would be properly cooking food (in this case fish), water sanitation, and proper hygiene. Prevention as the saying goes is better than cure.

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https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/food/fish/health-benefits

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-types/fish-and-shellfish-nutrition/

https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-fish

https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/diphyllobothriasis/index.html

https://www.healthline.com/health/diphyllobothriasis

https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/diphyllobothrium-diphyllobothriasis/

https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/neglected-tropical-diseases-clonorchiasis

https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/clonorchiasis/index.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532892/

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/anisakiasis/index.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/anisakiasis

https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/anisakiasis/index.html