Preliminary observations on muscle distribution of Anisakis sp. L3 in European hake off Southwest Ireland

This study examined the distribution of Anisakis sp. L3 within the edible muscle tissue of 15 European hake (Merluccius merluccius) specimens captured off the Southwest Irish coast during the spring of 2023. European hake is a commercially valuable species, but it is frequently and heavily infected with species of the genus Anisakis, which pose significant zoonotic risks. All examined hakes were infected, with a mean intensity of 743.3 ± 215 larvae per fish and a mean density of 17.7 ± 6.7 larvae per gram of muscle. While the distribution of parasites was symmetrical between the left and right sides of the fish, significant differences were observed among the four muscle sections. The anterior ventral region (belly flap) was identified as the area most severely affected by infection. The removal of belly flaps has been demonstrated to achieve an 83 % reduction in Anisakis sp. presence, signifying a straightforward yet efficacious measure to mitigate the risk of human infection and enhance seafood safety. No significant correlation was found between the host features measured, including total length and eviscerated weight, and the parasitic load. These findings underscore the significance of targeted processing techniques in enhancing the safety of European hake for consumption.