Seafood-borne parasitic diseases in Australia: are they rare or underdiagnosed?

Australia is a multicultural country surrounded by water where seafood is regularly consumed. Literature suggests that some popular edible fish sold in fish markets may be infected with parasites transmissible to humans (notably, anisakids and other helminths); however the number of reported human cases due to these parasites is low. In this article we critically review topical publications to understand whether the low number of human infection is due to lack of expertise in Australia to identify and diagnose accurately seafood-borne parasitic infections. The risk these parasites pose to humans may be underestimated due to: (i) errors or inability of diagnosing these infections, primarily due to less sensitive and specific serological tests and misidentifying parasites without a taxonomist in the diagnostic team; and (ii) medical practitioners not being aware of these parasites or not considering them in the differential diagnosis even in patients with history of regular raw or undercooked seafood consumption.

Cutaneous larva migrans induced by swallowing live pond loaches.

Freshwater fish, specifically loaches, are potential hosts of Gnathostoma species. Consumption of uncooked freshwater loaches may result in cutaneous larva migrans. We report the case of a 70-year-old Taiwanese man who presented with a serpiginous skin rash on his abdomen. He had eaten live loaches intermittently (sometimes daily) for 5 months before his presentation. On histopathological examination, a transected parasite body and a headbulb were found in the mid-dermis. The parasite was confirmed as belonging to the genus Gnathostoma, most likely Gnathostoma doloresi. The patient recovered uneventfully without treatment, and had no symptoms at his 12-month follow-up visit.