Anisakiasis in a Canadian patient with incarcerated epigastric hernia

Abstract

Anisakiasis is human zoonotic parasitic infection caused by a nematode parasite called Anisakis. This infection is usually reported in Asian countries where consumption of raw seafood is common. Very few cases have been reported in North America. We present the case of a female Canadian patient with an Anisakis larvae in an incarcerated ventral hernia. Cases of Anisakis infections are exceedingly rare in western countries, with very few previous reports describing extra-gastrointestinal cases. Diagnosis is often difficult since the symptoms of anisakiasis are not pathognomonic. As the larvae cannot survive in the body, conservative treatment might be effective in intestinal anisakiasis and surgery is usually performed when complications are encountered. Preventive measures are crucial and include educating the public about the risks of raw fish consumption and the importance of visually inspecting consumed fish and freezing it before ingestion to kill the larvae and prevent the infection.