Recovery of Pseudoterranova decipiens (Anisakidae) larvae from codfish of the Antarctic Ocean.

Anisakid larvae were found from the liver and stomach of the codfish (Notothenia neglecta) caught from the Antarctic Ocean, South Pole, where the Polar Research Center of The Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute is operating. Through observations by scanning electron (SEM) and light microscopy (LM), they were identified as the third stage larvae of Pseudoterranova decipiens, a potential agent of human codworm anisakiasis. They measured 25.0-28.5 mm in length, and 0.6-0.8 mm in width. The SEM revealed a prominent boring tooth, three lips, and excretory pore at the anterior end, and a small but prominent mucron at the posterior end. From whole mounts and cross sections of the larvae the ventriculus, intestinal cecum and a Renette cell were found characteristically at the same plane. Raw eating of the codfish caught from the Antarctic Ocean near the South Pole should be avoided so as to prevent human codworm anisakiasis in this area.