OBJECTIVEThe aim of this research was to investigate the third phase Anisakis simplex larvae (Anisakis L₃) infection in marine fish caught in Zhoushan Fishery and to find out its physicochemical and biological characteristics.

METHODSA total of 444 fish belonging to 29 species were dissected to isolate anisakis larvae which were then morphologically identified. The survival tolerance of Anisakis L₃ were observed in various conditions, such as in different temperature and medium.

RESULTSA total of 218 fish from 21 species were infected by Anisakis simplex larvae, yielding an overall infection rate of 49.10% (218/444). Trichiurus haumela, pneumatophorus japonicus, miichthys miiuy, argyrosomus argentatus and anguilliformes had high infection rate and had an average infection intensity of 15.28 per fish. 3332 Anisakis larvae were detected in 218 fish, among which Anisakis L₃ and Pseudoterranova larvae accounted for 99.46% (3314/3332) and 0.54% (18/3332) respectively. Anisakis L₃ was highly resistant to common condiment. We found the liquor with high concentration of alcohol showed better insecticidal effect than that with low concentration of alcohol (t = 4.105, P < 0.05) and low concentration mebendazole composite was not only more effective than high concentration mebendazole composite (F = 45.198, P < 0.01) but also more effective than other drugs, such as albendazole and mebendazole. Anisakis L₃ could live up to 9 h and 12 h at -20°C, -10°C respectively, however they were very sensitive to high temperature. It has been shown that they could only survive for less than 11 s and 1 s at 50°C and 60°C respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe observed Anisakis L₃ infection rate in the marine fish found in Zhoushan Fishery was very high. Anisakis L₃ showed high resistance to low temperature but not to high temperature.