Molecular Characterization of sp. Viable Plerocercoids in Fresh Longfin Inshore Squid () and Implications for Cephalopod Inspection.

Cephalopods, an appreciated seafood product, are common hosts of marine cestodes. The aim of this work is to report visible alive plerocercoids in longfin inshore squid (), a cephalopod species commercialized as fresh and whole in Italy. Seventy from the Northwest Atlantic (FAO area 21) were collected and visually inspected. In total, 18 plerocercoid larvae were found in the viscera of 10 host specimens (P: 14.3% 95% CI 7.1-24.7; MI: 1.8, MA: 0.26; range 1-4) and molecularly analyzed targeting the variable D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the cytochrome oxidase subunit I () gene. The molecular characterization allowed to identify all the plerocercoids as sp., a cestode of the Phyllobothriidae family with Lamnidae sharks as definitive hosts, and cephalopods as second intermediate hosts. These findings represent the first molecular record of sp. in , thus contributing to elucidate its poorly known life cycle. Even if not affecting consumer's health, these visible parasites may represent a reason for disgust for consumers. Therefore, the results suggest that Food Business Operators should also check for the presence of these visible parasites during inspection and underline the importance of a correct consumers' education.