Anisakis simplex: dangerous--dead and alive?

The risk of infection with Anisakis simplex and related parasites of fish has been recognized for some time, but it is now emerging that ingestion of material from dead parasites in food is also potentially dangerous. The resulting allergic reactions range from rapid onset and potentially lethal anaphylactic reactions to chronic, debilitating conditions. This review discusses the problems and clinical implications associated with A.

Laboratory determinations in Anisakis simplex allergy.

Background: Anaphylactic reactions caused by the fish nematode, Anisakis simplex, after ingestion of parasitized fish, have been described.

Objective: This study was undertaken to confirm, by histamine release tests, that A. simplex is able to trigger IgE-mediated reactions and to describe the serologic profiles in this sensitization.

Allergic contact dermatitis from proprietary topical analgesic sprays containing 3-(aminomethyl)-pyridyl salicylate.

Eleven cases of allergic contact dermatitis following the use of proprietary topical analgesic sprays (Algiospray and Pangesic) are described. Patch testing revealed that the adverse reactions were attributable to 3-(aminomethyl)-pyridine, which is present in these products as an ion pair with salicylic acid. The similarity between the two products investigated is not immediately apparent from the chemical nomenclature used by the manufacturers to describe the ingredients of their sprays.