The Inhibitory Effect of Wood Creosote on the Movement of Anisakis Larvae: An Implication for the Treatment of Acute Anisakiasis.

Introduction: Anisakiasis is a common disease in countries such as Japan, where raw or undercooked marine fish are frequently consumed. The disease is caused by accidental ingestion of a live larva of Anisakis in raw or undercooked marine fish. In typical cases, it causes abrupt gastrointestinal symptoms, such as epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting. According to a published report, the disease was alleviated by oral ingestion of an over-the-counter drug containing wood creosote.

Methods: We performed an in vitro experiment to elucidate whether wood creosote can inhibit the motor activity of Anisakis larvae, using infrared locomotion tracking and agarose gel penetration techniques.

Results: Our results clearly demonstrate that wood creosote inhibits the motor activity of Anisakis larvae. The concentration of wood creosote used in our experiment is similar to that found in stomach juice when a usual oral dose is taken of the medicine containing wood creosote.

Discussion/conclusion: Our results suggest the potential usefulness of the medicine containing wood creosote in the treatment of acute Anisakis infection of the gastrointestinal tract.