Freshwater Fish in U.S. Carry Introduced Human-Infecting Parasites

More than 90% of popular freshwater game fish in Southern California contained an introduced parasite capable of infecting humans, according to a new study from researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. More than 90% of popular freshwater game fish in Southern California contained an introduced parasite capable of infecting humans, according to a new study from researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

The parasites found in the study — two species of flatworms called trematodes — typically cause gastrointestinal problems, weight loss or lethargy when they infect humans. In some rare and severe cases, the parasites have caused strokes or heart attacks. The findings, published June 3 in the Journal of Infectious Diseases and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), suggest that these parasites pose a previously unrecognized public health risk in the United States.

“Americans don’t usually think about parasites when they eat freshwater fish because it hasn’t historically been an issue here,” said Ryan Hechinger, an ecologist and parasitologist at Scripps and the study’s senior author. “But these trematodes have now been widely introduced in the U.S. and that means that doctors and the public should be aware.” Read More: University of California – San Diego

Source: ENN