Occupational disease due to Anisakis simplex in fish handlers.

BACKGROUND: Anisakis is a marine nematode. Its larvae can be found encysted in several species, both in the abdominal cavity and in the adjacent musculature. The most commonly affected commercial species are hake, whiting, cod, and mackerel. The prevalence in fish varies according to the fishing area and the size of the host. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Until now only three species have been confirmed to be involved in human anisakiasis, the most common ones being A. simplex sensu stricto (s.s.) and A. pegreffii, and anecdotally, A. physeteris. Infestation in humans occurs when they eat raw or undercooked parasitized fish or cephalopods (pickled, cold-smoked, salted, semi-preserved, prepared in certain Asian styles like sushi or sashimi, ceviche). RESULTS: The majority of anisakiasis cases have been described by Japanese authors. However, over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of cases reported in other countries including Italy and Spain. It is estimated that its incidence in the European Union is 0.32/100,000, and in the Basque Country (Spain), this parasite is responsible for 10% of anaphylaxis cases and 32% of urticaria cases in adults aged 40-60 years, around 300 cases/year. Anisakis-related disease in the work environment (occupational disease) is less common. CONCLUSIONS: We present three cases of the occupational disease in Spain due to a type I hypersensitivity to Anisakis simplex in individuals who handle fish (one fishmonger, one supermarket employee, and one chef).

Maculopatía crónica bilateral en un soldador / Chronic bilateral maculopathy in a welder

Se aporta un caso de maculopatía bilateral crónica, en un soldador que trabajaba en un pequeño taller mecánico. Consulta a un Servicio de Oftalmología porque desde hacía varios meses presentaba una importante pérdida de visión. El diagnóstico se realiza principalmente a través de la retinografía, las imágenes de autofluorescencía y de la tomografía de coherencia óptica. Se comentan los principales casos descritos en la literatura médica. También se describen las principales medidas preventivas que se deberían aplicar para evitar la aparición de casos como este

A case of chronic bilateral maculopathy is provided in a welder working in a small workshop. Consult a Department of Ophthalmology because for several months has vision loss. The diagnosis is mainly done through retinography, images of autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography. Principal cases described in the literature are discussed. Preventive measures should be implemented to prevent the incidence of cases like this are also described