APPROACHES TO DIAGNOSING ANISAKIS ALLERGY

Anisakis species are marine roundworms which use sea mammals such as dolphins and whales as primary hosts. The stage 3 larval form (L3) of Anisakis (Fig. 1) infects fish and other seafood such as squid, and con-sequently humans may become accidental hosts for Anisakis if they consume raw or undercooked fish.1 Infection is known as anisakiasis and is often associat-ed with gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. Patients ’ reac-tions range from being asymptomatic to requiring emergency room care. Since 1960 when anisakiasis was first described, thousands of cases have been reported from Japan and hundreds from Europe, the USA. and other parts of the world.2 The management of anisakiasis involves physicall