Anisakis simplex (Nematoda: Anisakidae) Infection of the Musculature and Body Cavity of Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus harengus)

The fillets and body cavities of the 305 Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus harengus) collected from six locations around the east coast of Canada were examined for Anisakis simplex larvae. The fillets were checked by candling over a fluorescent light and by digestion in a pepsin – HCl acid solution. The results demonstrated the inaccuracy of candling as a technique for detecting A. simplex larvae in the musculature of herring. Anisakis simplex larvae were found in the muscle of 7.9% of the herring examined, and all herring with fillet infections were from one sample collected from southern Newfoundland in February 1983. All had over 15 larvae in the body cavity. Since none of the other herring examined had over eight larvae in the body cavity, I concluded that most Canadian Atlantic herring are safe for consumption raw, salted, smoked, or pickled. The results from Canadian Atlantic herring were compared with those from herring collected by Smith and Wootten from around Britain. The only Canadian Atlantic herring found with a similar level of infection to those were from southern Newfoundland.