Anisakiasis Is it common in Japan?
What is the reason?
Dec 5 18:07
I got food poisoning from Anisakis after eating sashimi I bought at a fresh fish store.
Anisakis parasitic on seafood such as mackerel and horse mackerel.
If they enter the human body alive, they will pierce the stomach and intestines, causing severe pain and vomiting.
Did you know that most of the world's cases of Anisakis actually occur in Japan?
We investigated the latest trends in research on Anisakis.
(Radio Center reporter Kumiko Seko)
What is Anisakiasis
Anisakis larvae are 2-3 centimeters long and look like lint.
If it enters the human body alive, it will pierce the stomach and intestines, causing severe pain and vomiting.
Three days after eating horse mackerel sashimi I bought at a fresh fish store, I was tormented by pain I had never experienced before.
Although Anisakis dies in about a week after entering the human body, it felt as if it had been stabbed repeatedly in the pit of the pit with a thick needle, making it impossible to stand up straight.
Severe pain!
Beware of "Anisakiasis"!
!
Types of Anisakis are related to Anisakiasis!
?
This anisakiasis.
It is estimated that 20,000 people are diagnosed annually in Japan, but 95% of the world's cases are said to occur in Japan.
One of the main reasons why it is so common in Japan is the food culture of eating raw fish, such as sashimi and sushi.
However, this time, it was newly discovered that the reason for this is not only that, but also the sea around us.
We interviewed Hiroshi Sugiyama, a visiting researcher at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, who made the new discovery.
Hiroshi Sugiyama, Visiting Researcher at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases,
"Actually, there are different types of Anisakis, and about 90% of people who have Anisakis found in their bodies are parasitic on seafood on the Pacific Ocean side. Anisakis was discovered."
There are different types of Anisakis, and in the waters near Japan, there is
Simplex (commonly known as S-type) on the Pacific Ocean side
, Peglephy (commonly known as P-type) on the Sea of Japan side,
and
Pseudoterranova, which causes the same symptoms as food poisoning caused by Anisakis. .
As you can see in the photo, there is no visible difference between the S type and the P type, and both look like white lint, while the Pseudo Terra Nova is dark brown.
Sugiyama obtained 189 Anisakis larvae removed from 181 people in 30 prefectures from 2018 to 2019, extracted DNA samples, and identified the type of Anisakis.
As a result, 168 animals, or 88.9%, were S-type, while 5.3% were P-type and 5.8% were Pseudoterranova.
what does this point to?
Sugiyama, Visiting Researcher at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases
“In general, many Anisakis parasites live in the internal organs of fish. However, depending on the species of fish, the S type parasitizes the fish while it is still alive. As a result of eating sushi, there is a risk of Anisakis food poisoning."
"The S type was about 90% this time, so it is not only because Japanese people eat a lot of fish, but there are many S types on the Pacific side of Japan. It can be said that it has been confirmed that this has led to the occurrence of anisakiasis.”
Furthermore, Sugiyama points out that the number of people suffering from anisakiasis is increasing nationwide as the distribution network has developed and fish from the Pacific Ocean can be eaten all over the country.
On the other hand, although anisakiasis has occurred in South Korea, where there is a custom of eating raw seafood, the incidence of anisakiasis is lower than in Japan because most of the seafood is caught in the Sea of Japan.
Does that mean that fish from the Sea of Japan side can be safely eaten?
Sugiyama, Visiting Researcher, National Institute of Infectious Diseases
“Actually, that’s not the case. Recently, S type has also been found in fish on the Sea of Japan coast. It is thought to be the cause.I think that the habitat of Anisakis may change depending on changes in the marine environment in the future.However, even P-type and pseudoterranova can cause Anisakis food poisoning, so it is still possible. You should be careful"
Which fish are less parasitized by Anisakis?
Then, when I asked Sugiyama, a visiting researcher, whether there are any fish that are less parasitized by Anisakis, I was told that fish species in the inland sea are said to be less parasitized by Anisakis.
As I proceeded with the interview, I learned that a study had been published showing that the rate of Anisakis parasitism was actually low in the brand fish "Sekisaba".
Seki mackerel, which is line-caught in the Bungo Channel off the coast of Oita Prefecture, was originally said to be less parasitized by Anisakis among local fishermen and chefs.
However, due to lack of scientific data, the actual situation was unknown.
That is why the research team led by Professor Takashi Kobayashi of Oita University was set up.
From 2014 to 2016, with the cooperation of local fishermen's cooperatives, etc., 74 "Seki mackerel", 40 mackerel caught in western Kyushu, and 40 mackerel caught in southern Kyushu were dissected and all parasitic Anisakis were removed. We investigated each parasitism rate.
As a result,
the parasitism rate of Anisakis in Sekisaba was 6.8%, while it
was 75% in western
Kyushu and 38% in southern Kyushu.
Professor Takashi Kobayashi, Oita University
“This survey demonstrated that the rate of Anisakis parasites in Sekisaba is low. However, the reason for this is still unknown. A school is called a "stock," and it is said that Sekisaba also forms a "stock." Therefore, it can be said that they are creating a unique 'stock' with less parasitism of Anisakis."
So, is Sekisaba safe to eat raw?
Professor Takashi Kobayashi, Oita University
"Unfortunately, it cannot be said that it is 'safe'. Although the parasitism rate is actually low at 6.8%, Anisakis is parasitic. As usual, caution is required when eating raw."
In addition, the Saganoseki branch of the Oita Prefectural Fisheries Cooperative said, ``We had heard that the parasitism rate was originally low, but now that anisakiasis is on the rise nationwide, we have gained more peace of mind with this demonstration. I was talking.
A technology has been developed to kill Anisakis by passing electricity through raw fish instantaneously, but full-scale introduction is still ahead, and unfortunately, it seems that people have to be careful when eating raw fish. .
Anisakis is sometimes found by chance to be stuck in the stomach without any symptoms, such as during a health checkup.
For these reasons, anisakiasis is thought to be caused not only by the pain of being stung but also by an allergic reaction, but the mechanism of its onset has not yet been elucidated.
I would like to continue reporting so that the number of people suffering from Anisakis will decrease even by one.
To beware of Anisakis
This is the time when the fish becomes more oily and tastier, but when eating it raw, be
sure to check for anisakis before purchasing or cooking, and remove any that you find
. Don't forget to remove the internal organs of the fish you catch right away
▼Be careful not to put salt, wasabi, soy sauce, or vinegar on the fish if you use the normal amount.
Radio Center Reporter
Kumiko Seko Joined the station in
2005
Responsible for coverage and production work on radio
My favorite fish is tuna and horse mackerel My
favorite way to eat is sashimi