Capillariasis philippinensis: a fish-borne parasitic zoonosis

Fish from lagoons in Northern Luzon, Philippines, have been shown experimentally to be intermediate hosts of Capillaria philippinensis. Eggs ingested by the fish hatch in the intestines and the larvae double in size in 3 weeks. When fed to monkeys, Mongolian gerbils and birds, the larvae develop into adults and reproduce. Fish from the lagoons or purchased from the market were fed to gerbils and the animals developed patent infections, demonstrating natural transmission of the parasite. Philippine and Thailand populations have the habit of eating uncooked freshwater and brackish water fish and some have been experimentally infected with C. philippinensis. These countries report the largest number of cases of intestinal capillariasis. Fish-eating birds are now considered natural hosts for the parasite, fish the intermediate hosts, and humans accidentally become infected by eating infected fish.