Occurrence of Anisakis sp. Infection in Mackerel (Rastrelliger sp.) from Traditional Markets in Bogor, Indonesia

Abstract

Anisakis spp. are zoonotic nematodes that are widely recognized as a food safety concern in marine fish. In Indonesia, however, information on Anisakis infection in fish sold at traditional markets is still limited, especially in inland areas of consumption such as Bogor. This study aimed to describe the occurrence and infection characteristics of Anisakis larvae in mackerel (Rastrelliger sp.) marketed in traditional markets in Bogor, Indonesia, as baseline information for fish parasitology and food safety considerations. A total of 35 mackerel were randomly collected from seven traditional markets in Bogor between May and June 2024. Each fish underwent physical examination followed by necropsy, and the intestinal organs were examined using native parasitological methods. Larvae recovered from the samples were identified based on their morphological features under light microscopy, and infection levels were expressed as prevalence and degree of infection. All larvae identified in this study were third-stage (L3) Anisakis sp. Type 1, characterized by the presence of a boring tooth, ventriculus, and mucron. The overall prevalence of infection was 45.7%, with a mean degree of infection of 10.2 larvae per infected fish, indicating a commonly occurring infection with moderate intensity. Higher prevalence and infection intensity were observed in mackerel obtained from markets located in Bogor Regency compared to those in Bogor City. In addition, infection was more frequently found in larger fish, suggesting greater exposure over time. The results provide market-based evidence of Anisakis sp. infection in mackerel sold in traditional markets in Bogor. These findings underline the importance of routine monitoring of parasites in marketed fish and reinforce the need for proper handling and thorough cooking to minimize the potential zoonotic risk of anisakiasis.