Diphyllobothrium, Anisakis and other fish-borne parasitic zoonoses

Fish-borne parasitic zoonoses such as anisakiasis and diphyllobothriasis occur infrequently in Canada and more work needs to be done on the interactions and transmission dynamics of marine and freshwater anisakids in North America. The diphyllobothriid tapeworms are primarily restricted to the northern Canada. Problems with the specific identification of these parasites from their fish hosts prompted the development of a series of nucleic acid probes. Use of the polymerase chain reaction proved to be quick, accurate and requires little skill, once developed.