Anisakis simplex (sensu lato) and Hysterothylacium cornutum (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in adult Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in Norway

The Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus is one of the largest and most valuable fish species in the Atlantic Ocean. Its meat is highly appreciated worldwide, particularly in Japan, where it is commonly consumed raw as sushi or sashimi. Here, we investigated the occurrence and species composition o...

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Main Authors: Miguel Bao, Arne Levsen, Lucilla Giulietti, Martin Wiech, Keno Ferter, Egil Karlsbakk, Paolo Cipriani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Food and Waterborne Parasitology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676625000083
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author Miguel Bao
Arne Levsen
Lucilla Giulietti
Martin Wiech
Keno Ferter
Egil Karlsbakk
Paolo Cipriani
author_facet Miguel Bao
Arne Levsen
Lucilla Giulietti
Martin Wiech
Keno Ferter
Egil Karlsbakk
Paolo Cipriani
author_sort Miguel Bao
collection DOAJ
description The Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus is one of the largest and most valuable fish species in the Atlantic Ocean. Its meat is highly appreciated worldwide, particularly in Japan, where it is commonly consumed raw as sushi or sashimi. Here, we investigated the occurrence and species composition of parasitic nematodes in the viscera of adult Atlantic bluefin tuna caught off western Norway. The zoonotic nematodes Anisakis simplex (sensu stricto) and Anisakis pegreffii are reported for the first time in wild large adult specimens. Findings suggest that both anisakids appear unable to penetrate the stomach wall of large tuna. Instead, they remain attached and are associated with pathologies, including crater-like ulcers and tumours, sometimes filled with cyst-like decomposition products. A few anisakid larvae were, however, found encapsulated on the intestine and caeca, suggesting that they may have penetrated the thinner walls of the digestive tract there. These results highlight the need for further research on tuna's muscle to rule out any food safety concerns. Additionally, the raphidascaridid nematode Hysterothylacium cornutum and a single 4th-stage larva of H. aduncum, were identified in the tuna stomachs. Partial LSU rDNA, mtDNA cox2 and ITS rDNA sequences of H. cornutum are reported for the first time. These sequences may aid resolving the taxonomy of the genus Hysterothylacium and unravelling the parasite's life cycle in future studies.
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spelling doaj-art-f71bcff153a8404f91b2d0d0a8020f122025-08-20T03:24:34ZengElsevierFood and Waterborne Parasitology2405-67662025-06-0139e0026110.1016/j.fawpar.2025.e00261Anisakis simplex (sensu lato) and Hysterothylacium cornutum (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in adult Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in NorwayMiguel Bao0Arne Levsen1Lucilla Giulietti2Martin Wiech3Keno Ferter4Egil Karlsbakk5Paolo Cipriani6Institute of Marine Research (IMR), PO Box 1870 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, Norway; Corresponding author.Institute of Marine Research (IMR), PO Box 1870 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, NorwayInstitute of Marine Research (IMR), PO Box 1870 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, NorwayInstitute of Marine Research (IMR), PO Box 1870 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, NorwayInstitute of Marine Research (IMR), PO Box 1870 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, NorwayInstitute of Marine Research (IMR), PO Box 1870 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, Norway; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, NorwayInstitute of Marine Research (IMR), PO Box 1870 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, Norway; Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyThe Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus is one of the largest and most valuable fish species in the Atlantic Ocean. Its meat is highly appreciated worldwide, particularly in Japan, where it is commonly consumed raw as sushi or sashimi. Here, we investigated the occurrence and species composition of parasitic nematodes in the viscera of adult Atlantic bluefin tuna caught off western Norway. The zoonotic nematodes Anisakis simplex (sensu stricto) and Anisakis pegreffii are reported for the first time in wild large adult specimens. Findings suggest that both anisakids appear unable to penetrate the stomach wall of large tuna. Instead, they remain attached and are associated with pathologies, including crater-like ulcers and tumours, sometimes filled with cyst-like decomposition products. A few anisakid larvae were, however, found encapsulated on the intestine and caeca, suggesting that they may have penetrated the thinner walls of the digestive tract there. These results highlight the need for further research on tuna's muscle to rule out any food safety concerns. Additionally, the raphidascaridid nematode Hysterothylacium cornutum and a single 4th-stage larva of H. aduncum, were identified in the tuna stomachs. Partial LSU rDNA, mtDNA cox2 and ITS rDNA sequences of H. cornutum are reported for the first time. These sequences may aid resolving the taxonomy of the genus Hysterothylacium and unravelling the parasite's life cycle in future studies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676625000083AnisakisHysterothylaciumThunnus thynnusBluefin tunaFood safetyPathology
spellingShingle Miguel Bao
Arne Levsen
Lucilla Giulietti
Martin Wiech
Keno Ferter
Egil Karlsbakk
Paolo Cipriani
Anisakis simplex (sensu lato) and Hysterothylacium cornutum (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in adult Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in Norway
Food and Waterborne Parasitology
Anisakis
Hysterothylacium
Thunnus thynnus
Bluefin tuna
Food safety
Pathology
title Anisakis simplex (sensu lato) and Hysterothylacium cornutum (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in adult Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in Norway
title_full Anisakis simplex (sensu lato) and Hysterothylacium cornutum (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in adult Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in Norway
title_fullStr Anisakis simplex (sensu lato) and Hysterothylacium cornutum (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in adult Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in Norway
title_full_unstemmed Anisakis simplex (sensu lato) and Hysterothylacium cornutum (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in adult Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in Norway
title_short Anisakis simplex (sensu lato) and Hysterothylacium cornutum (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in adult Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in Norway
title_sort anisakis simplex sensu lato and hysterothylacium cornutum nematoda ascaridoidea in adult atlantic bluefin tuna thunnus thynnus caught in norway
topic Anisakis
Hysterothylacium
Thunnus thynnus
Bluefin tuna
Food safety
Pathology
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676625000083
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