Margarita Tejada

Quantification of Anisakis simplex allergens in fresh, long-term frozen, and cooked fish muscle.

Fish-borne parasitic zoonoses such as Anisakiasis were once limited to people living in countries where raw or undercooked fish is traditionally consumed. Nowadays, several factors, such as the growing international markets, the improved transportation systems, the population movements, and the expansion of ethnic ways of cooking in developed countries, have increased the population exposed to these parasites. Improved diagnosis technology and a better knowledge of the symptoms by clinicians have increased the Anisakiasis cases worldwide. Dietary recommendations to Anisakis-sensitized patients include the consumption of frozen or well-cooked fish, but these probably do not defend sensitized patients from allergen exposure. The aim of our work was to develop a sensitive and specific method to detect and quantify Anisakis simplex allergens in fish muscle and its derivatives. Protein extraction was made in saline buffer followed by preparation under acid conditions. A. simplex antigens were detected by IgG immunoblot and quantified by dot blot. The allergenic properties of the extracts were assessed by IgE immunoblotting and basophil activation test. We were able to detect less than 1 ppm of A. simplex antigens, among them the allergen Ani s 4, in fish muscle with no cross-reactions and with a recovery rate of 82.5%. A. simplex antigens were detected in hakes and anchovies but not in sardines, red mullets, or shellfish. We detected A. simplex allergens in cooked hakes and also in hake stock. We proved that A. simplex allergens are preserved in long-term frozen storage (-20 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C for 11 months) of parasitized hakes. Basophil activation tests have proven the capability of the A. simplex-positive fish extracts to induce allergic symptoms.

Influence of texture of suwari gels on kamaboko gels made from sardine (Sardina pilchardus) surimi

The textural characteristics and water holding capacity of suwari (set) and kamaboko (set and cooked) sardine surimi gels were examined in order to clarify the influence of the initial network formed in setting conditions (25, 35 and 40°C for 30 and 60 min) on the texture of the kamaboko gels. Although the texture of suwari gels set at 35°C improved with longer setting, both setting times ensured kamaboko gels with the highest gel strength. Suwari gels set at 25°C also improved with longer setting but the gel strength of both suwari and kamaboko gels was lower than at 35°C. For gels set at 40°C prolonged setting weakened the suwari networks formed, leading to kamaboko gels with poorer textural characteristics. ©1997 SCI

Scanning electron microscopy of Anisakis larvae following different treatments

Ingestion of fish parasitized with Anisakis larvae can produce infestation and/or allergy in consumers. Technological and food processing treatments have been applied to parasitized fish in order to kill the larvae and avoid the infestation; however, their influence on allergenicity has not been studied. Four lots of hake (Merluccius merluccius) steaks artificially parasitized with Anisakis larvae were subjected to two storage chilling (5 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C) and freezing (-20 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C) treatments and two food processing treatments of heat (final temperature 86.3 degrees C) and microwave (final temperature 66.9 degrees C) and studied by scanning electron microscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) (acid [pH = 2] and water preparations), and emission of fluorescence. Anisakis larvae were resistant to acid conditions, remaining alive after treatment. Larvae in the heat- and microwave-treated lots presented coagulated and disrupted zones in the cuticle with release of fluids. The cylindrical shape changed to a dehydrated appearance mainly observed by ESEM. Fluorescence was only noticeable in the frozen larvae. Larvae without apparent changes, together with dehydrated ones, were observed by ESEM in the frozen lot; nevertheless, no disruptions in the cuticle were perceptible. Further studies are needed in order to elucidate if the changes observed in the cuticle reduce the resistance of the parasites to the action of gastric enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract and to determine the release of allergens to the flesh by the live larvae during chilled storage of the fish.

Adenosine Triphosphate and Derivatives as Freshness Indicators of Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata)

Intensive production of farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and the different slaughtering methods and postmortem treatments are prompting a need for early indicators to determine fish quality during chilled storage. Adenosine-5 -triphosphate (ATP) and derivatives and their relationship as Kvalue were measured in chilled whole and gutted gilthead sea bream killed by immersion in ice water, asphyxia, anesthesia followed by a blow to the head, or a blow to the head. ATP derivatives taken independently were not found to be useful indicators for this species. The evolution of Kvalue was linear but attained lower final values than in other species. No significant differences were found in relation to the method of slaughter or postmortem treatment.

Role of formaldehyde in formation of natural actomyosin aggregates in hake during frozen storage

ZusammenfassungWährend der Lagerung gewisser Magerfische in gefrorenem Zustand bildet sich Formaldehyd (FA), was die Bildung von Aggregaten myofibrilärer Proteine verursacht. Diese Aggregate wurden im Modell mit Actomyosin (NAM) (5 mg/mL) und wachsenden Formaldehydkonzentrationen untersucht. Die Muster wurden zwei Monate in gefrorenem Zustand bei -20 °C gelagert. Während dieses Zeitraums wurden die Löslichkeit in 0,6 M NaCl, die Ca2+ATPase-Aktivität, die cis-Parinarsäure-(CPA)-Hydrophobie und SH-Gruppen gemessen sowie SDS-Polyacrylamid-Gel Elektrophoresen (PAGE) durchgeführt. — FA verursachte einen sofortigen Verlust von Ca2+ATPase-Aktivität sowie einen Rückgang löslicher Proteine und in der CPA-Hydrophobie. Dieser Effekt verstärkte sich bei eingefrorenen Mustern. Die elektrophoretischen Profile derjenigen Proteine, die löslich blieben, zeigten sowohl in frischen als auch in gefrorenen Mustern, daß das erste Protein, das bei einer Reaktion von FA mit NAM gelöst wird, Myosin ist, darauf folgen Actin, die Troponine und leichten Myosinketten und schließlich Tropomyosin, was wiederum von der FA-Menge und Reaktionszeit abhängt. In den Anfangsstadien wurden hochmolekulare Aggregate gefunden, die wahrscheinlich das Ergebnis gleichwertiger Bindung von Myosinmolekülen sind. Bei Erhöhung der FA-Menge oder Verlängerung der Lagerzeit bildeten sich hochmolekulare Strukturen, die im löslichen Teil nicht gefunden werden konnten.AbstractDuring frozen storage of certain lean species of fish, formaldehyde (FA) is formed, giving rise to changes in texture related to the formation of aggregates of myofibrillar proteins. In order to study these aggregates a model system was prepared with natural actomyosin (NAM) (5 mg/ml) and increasing concentrations of formaldehyde. The system was stored frozen at-20° C for 2 months during which solubility in 0.6 M NaCl, Ca2+ATPase activity,cis-parinaric acid (CPA) hydrophobicity, SH groups and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) were measured. — FA caused an immediate loss of Ca2+ATPase activity and a decline in soluble protein and CPA hydrophobicity, an effect that was enhanced when the samples were frozen. The electrophoretic profiles of the proteins that remained soluble showed that in both fresh and frozen samples, when FA reacts with NAM the first protein to be insolubilised is myosin, followed by actin, then the troponins and myosin light chains and lastly tropomyosin, depending on the amount of FA and the reaction time. Aggregates of high molecular mass were found at early stages, probably as a result of covalent binding of myosin molecules. When the amount of FA or the frozen storage time was increased, these aggregates became insoluble, forming high-molecular-mass structures and hence were not found in the soluble fraction.

Genetic variability of Anisakis simplex s.s. parasitizing European hake (Merluccius merluccius) in the Little Sole Bank area in the Northeast Atlantic

In this study, we researched the presence of anisakids in specimens of Merluccius merluccius caught in the area of Little Sole Bank, in the Northeast Atlantic, and found that 100% of the European hake examined were infected and showed high average values of abundance (976.88) and intensity (976.88). The larvae were identified in morphological terms as morphotype type I and in molecular terms as Anisakis simplex s.s via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism of the rDNA. The genetic variability of the A. simplex s.s population in the North Atlantic is notable, with at least two ribosomal and three mitochondrial haplotypes which are different from the specimen used as control, reflecting the diversity of this species, an aspect which has scarcely been studied to date. The cox-2 gene appears to be an interesting candidate for generating new genetic markers which can be applied to differentiate between A. simplex s.s and Anisakis pegreffii. We detected 11 fixed differences in this gene, and it also offers the advantage of being easily amplified by PCR. The high prevalence of infection by A. simplex s.s and the extremely high average intensity and abundance values can have significant repercussions on public health, especially among populations which regularly eat insufficiently cooked or raw fish and have a certain genetic predisposition; the genetic variability of the parasite could be another factor to take into account.

Antigenicity and Viability of Anisakis Larvae Infesting Hake Heated at Different Time-Temperature Conditions

Heat treatments (40 to 94 degrees Celsius, 30 s to 60 min) were applied to different batches of Anisakis simplex L3 larvae isolated from hake ovaries and viscera to study the effect of heat on the viability of the larvae measured as mobility, emission of fluorescence under UV light, and changes in color after staining with specific dyes, and on A. simplex antigenic proteins. The aim was to determine the lowest time-temperature conditions needed to kill the larvae to avoid anisakiasis in consumers, and to evaluate whether high temperature modifies the antigenicity of A. simplex extracts. Heating at 60 degrees Celsius for 10 min (recommended by some authors) was considered unsafe, as differences in viability between batches were found, with some larvae presenting spontaneous movements in one batch. At higher temperatures (> or = 70 degrees Celsius for > or = 1 min), no movement of the larvae was observed. Antigenic protein Ani s 4 and A. simplex crude antigens were detected in the larvae heated at 94 + or - 1 degrees Celsius for 3 min. This indicates that allergic symptoms could be provoked in previously sensitized consumers, even if the larvae were killed by heat treatment.

Anisakis Antigens Detected in Fish Muscle Infested with Anisakis simplex L3

Anisakis simplex is a fish parasite that is a public health risk to those consuming raw or poorly cooked marine fish and cephalopods because of the possibility of becoming infested with live larvae. In humans, penetration of the larvae into the gastrointestinal track can cause acute and chronic symptoms and allergic anisakiasis. Excretion and secretion products released by the larvae are thought to play a role in migration through the tissues and induce an immunoglobulin E-mediated immune response. The aim of this preliminary study was to detect parasite antigens and allergens in fish tissues surrounding the migrating larvae. Hake and anchovy fillets were artificially parasitized with Anisakis larvae and stored in chilled conditions for 5 days. Larvae were evaluated for fluorescence, fish muscle tissue was examined with transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical reactions of two rabbit polyclonal antisera against a parasite crude extract and the allergen Ani s 4 were recorded. Larvae immediately migrated into the fish muscle, and no emission of bluish fluorescence was observed. Fish muscle areas in contact with the parasite showed disruptions in the structure and inclusion of granules within sarcomeres. Both parasite antigens and the Ani s 4 allergen were located in areas close to the larvae and where sarcomere structure was preserved. These findings indicate that parasite antigens and allergens are dispersed into the muscle and might cause allergic symptoms such as dyspnea, vomiting, diarrhea, urticaria, angioedema, or anaphylaxis in some individuals sensitive to A. simplex.

Evaluation of Two Quality Indices Related to Ice Storage and Sensory Analysis in Farmed Gilthead Seabream and Seabass

Two farmed fish species of great importance in the European market, gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata; GSB) and seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax; SB) reared in different conditions were analysed to determine the best index to be used for calibration of a prototype designed for rapid measurement of freshness in ice stored fish. Sensory evaluation (quality index) was related to K-value (percent of the ratio of inosine plus hypoxanthine to adenosine-5-triphosphate (ATP) and breakdown products) and Torrymeter readings, chosen as indices that detect early changes in the ice stored fish. Higher K-values were obtained in SB than in GSB, however the degradation of ATP and derivatives followed the same pattern in the different lots in each species. No statistical differences in the evolution of K-value for the same storage time were observed, irrespective of the amount of ATP and breakdown products, muscle composition and rearing conditions of the fish. K-value correlated strongly with storage time and sensory evaluation measured in the raw fish, however, correlation of Torrymeter readings with storage time or sensory evaluation was much lower. This makes K-value a good index in these species for calibrating an apparatus designed to measure time-related changes in fish in response to chill storage.

Viability and antigenicity of anisakis simplex after conventional and microwave heating at fixed temperatures.

Inactivation of parasites in food by microwave treatment may vary due to differences in the characteristics of microwave ovens and food properties. Microwave treatment in standard domestic ovens results in hot and cold spots, and the microwaves do not penetrate all areas of the samples depending on the thickness, which makes it difficult to compare microwave with conventional heat treatments. The viability of Anisakis simplex (isolated larvae and infected fish muscle) heated in a microwave oven with precise temperature control was compared with that of larvae heated in a water bath to investigate any additional effect of the microwaves. At a given temperature, less time was required to kill the larvae by microwaves than by heated water. Microwave treatment killed A. simplex larvae faster than did conventional cooking when the microwaves fully penetrated the samples and resulted in fewer changes in the fish muscle. However, the heat-stable allergen Ani s 4 was detected by immunohistochemistry in the fish muscle after both heat treatments, even at 70°C, suggesting that Ani s 4 allergens were released from the larvae into the surrounding tissue and that the tissues retained their allergenicity even after the larvae were killed by both heat treatments. Thus, microwave cooking will not render fish safe for individuals already sensitized to A. simplex heat-resistant allergens.