Evidence of IgE-Mediated Cross-Reactions between and Proteins.

Fish consumers may develop allergic reactions following the ingestion of fish products containing nematode larvae within the genus . Sensitized patients may cross-react with proteins from insects, mites and mollusks, leading to allergic reactions even in the absence of the offending food. Potential cross-reactivity in -allergic patients with larval proteins from other zoonotic parasites present in freshwater and sea fish should be investigated due to an increasing occurrence in certain fish stocks, particularly .

Contracaecum osculatum (sensu lato) infection of Gadus morhua in the Baltic Sea: inter- and intraspecific interactions.

The subpopulation of Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea has experienced a significant increase in infections with anisakid nematode larvae of the species Contracaecum osculatum sensu lato (s.l.) since the year 2000.

Immunomodulatory effects of excretory/secretory compounds from Contracaecum osculatum larvae in a zebrafish inflammation model.

Excretory/secretory (ES) compounds isolated from third-stage larvae of the anisakid nematode Contracaecum osculatum parasitizing liver of Baltic cod were investigated for effects on immune gene expression in a zebrafish LPS-induced inflammation model. ES products containing a series of proteins, of which some had enzymatic activity, were injected solely or with LPS. ES proteins alone induced up-regulation of a number of immune-related genes, but generally to a lower degree compared to LPS.

Excretory/secretory products of anisakid nematodes: biological and pathological roles.

Parasites from the family Anisakidae are widely distributed in marine fish populations worldwide and mainly nematodes of the three genera Anisakis, Pseudoterranova and Contracaecum have attracted attention due to their pathogenicity in humans. Their life cycles include invertebrates and fish as intermediate or transport hosts and mammals or birds as final hosts. Human consumption of raw or underprocessed seafood containing third stage larvae of anisakid parasites may elicit a gastrointestinal disease (anisakidosis) and allergic responses.

Contracaecum osculatum and other anisakid nematodes in grey seals and cod in the Baltic Sea: molecular and ecological links.

Populations of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), sprats (Sprattus sprattus) and cod (Gadus morhua) in the Baltic Sea are relatively stationary. The present work, applying classical and molecular helminthological techniques, documents that seals and cod also share a common parasite, the anisakid nematode Contracaecum osculatum, which uses seals as the final host and fish as transport hosts. Sequencing mitochondrial genes (COX1 and COX2) in adult worms from seals and third-stage larvae from livers of Baltic fish (sprats and cod), showed that all gene variants occur in both seals and fish.