Sushi, Parasites and Stomach Pain, Oh My! What's Lurking in Your Favorite Roll?

Photo courtesy of BMJ Case Reports

The next time you think about heading out to dinner for some sushi, consider your favorite roll may be harboring more than just Bluefin tuna. Anisakiasis, a disease caused by a parasite that attaches itself to your innards, is on the rise in Western countries where consumption of raw fish and undercooked seafood is on the rise, according to recent reports.

A study published by BMJ Case Reports that the nasty little "worm" hides inside ill-prepared food, such as raw fish, and can set up camp in a host's upper gastrointestinal tract, causing severe abdominal pain and fever.

And Then My Stomach Started Hurting…

"A previously healthy man, aged 32 years, was admitted with severe epigastric pain, vomiting and low-grade fever since the previous week," states the report. "After a careful interview, he revealed that he recently ate sushi. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed and showed on the gastric body, a filiform parasite firmly attached to an area of swollen and hyperaemic mucosa, with its end penetrating the gastric mucosa."

While the report claims that most of the cases of Anisakiasis originate in Japan, more and more of these little buggers are showing up in Western countries such as the United States where the popularity of sushi has skyrocketed in recent years.

To diagnose and remove the parasite, doctors perform an endoscopy, using a Roth net to detach the tiny hijacker. This is the same procedure and device used to remove polyps found during a colonoscopy.

Avoid the Worm

So, how do you avoid getting Anisakiasis? Well, it's pretty simple. Make sure your seafood is cooked thoroughly (at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit). That or you can freeze the fish for 7 days to kill the parasite. Of course, you'll still be eating a worm, but how many microbial bodies do you unwittingly ingest on a daily basis? Yeah, I don't want to know either.

Sorry, didn't mean to ruin your dinner. Have a steak instead. Or ice cream. Ice cream is always good. Unless it's tainted with listeria, but that's another story....