Survey for fishborne zoonotic metacercariae in farmed grouper in Vietnam

Because of the common and growing practice of consuming raw grouper in Vietnam, the potential for transmission of zoonotic parasites is unclear. An investigation of the prevalence of zoonotic parasites in cage-reared grouper (Epinephelus coioides and Epinephelus bleekeri) from marine waters of Cat Ba Island, Hai Phong city, Northern Vietnam, revealed the presence of two zoonotic trematode metacercariae species, Procerovum varium and Heterophysopsis continua. The identity of the metacercariae was confirmed from adult flukes recovered from mice experimentally inoculated with metacercariae. The prevalence of zoonotic parasites in 40 E. coioides was 10.0% and 1.2% in 172 E. bleekeri. Since little is known of their ecology and epidemiology, further investigation of these zoonotic parasites is needed to develop prevention guidelines.