Sushi is a delicacy that has become a permanent feature of our kitchen. But is it completely safe to eat raw fish, even from a proven source? One of the inhabitants of Tokyo contracted a parasite that hatched in her … tonsil.
As reported in the American media, a 25-year-old Japanese woman reported to a doctor withpersistent sore throat . As it turned out, a nematode larva developed in her left tonsil, which was less than4 cmlong and was stillalivewhen removed with tweezers.
Research has shown that this is the fourth stage of parasitic larvaenematodePseudoterranova azarasthat can be infected by ingestionraworundercooked sea fish meat . This was also the case of a young Japanese woman who had eaten a Japanese delicacy a few days earlier -sashimi . It is diced or sliced raw meat, most often fish, beef, or seafood.
Such meat, if not heat-treated, can be contaminated withparasite larvae , and these, after getting into the stomach and small intestine, penetrate the mucosa of the human digestive system. Sometimes - as in this case - they spread all over the bodyand can survive in it for up toseveral weeks .
This is a cautionary tale for all fans of sushi and various other raw meat dishes.
The case of a woman was described in July this year. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, according to which there have been almost700cases of infection with this type of nematode in the world so far.
Anisakiosis, a disease caused by eating fish or seafood contaminated with parasites of the genusAnisakis ,ContracoecumiPseudoterranova, is also becoming more common inWestern countries , where sushi and other raw or undercooked seafood are growing in popularity.
In the described case, everything was successful - after removing the parasite, the woman was discharged from the hospital, but anisakiosis does not always end well. The location of the nematodes on the stomach wall can cause a severe allergic reaction and evenanaphylactic shock .
According to experts, to be killedfor parasites, temperatureabove 60 ° C ,rapid freezingor freezing the meat below-20 ° Con 3 daysas well as thoroughcleaningof fish before processing.
Nematodes of the type found in the body of a Japanese woman are spreading as fishermen have a habit of gutting fish caught while still on board and throwing their insides overboard. This is hownematode eggsget into seawater, where they go through different larval stages, and right after hatching they are swallowed by tinycrustaceans , and these in turn byfishwhose bodies already contain2 cm larvae .
Human is theiraccidental host .
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