Marine Nematodes in Seafood: A Review of Food Safety Concerns, Advanced Detection Techniques, and Mitigation Strategies

Marine nematodes are important food-borne parasites infecting many species of marine fish and cephalopods. This review provides a comprehensive discussion of the food safety concerns associated with marine nematodes in seafood, along with emerging methods for their detection. The potential prevention strategies for these seafood-borne parasites were also explored. According to the results, anisakiasis is the most serious nematode disease humans acquire from marine fish, chiefly due to Anisakis simplex larvae and, to a lesser degree, Pseudoterranova decipiens. Several analytical methods are employed for the detection of marine nematodes in seafood, each characterized by its own set of advantages and drawbacks. While traditional visual and digestion-based methods are still employed, newer techniques like hyperspectral imaging, and molecular analysis are advancing the field. These innovations provide greater sensitivity, automation, and the ability to identify parasites at the species level. The safety and quality of seafood products are ensured through the application of methods including freezing, salting, pulsed electric fields and high hydrostatic pressure. The effectiveness of these methods depends on the processing technique, nematode species, and parasite's developmental stage. This review presents findings pertinent to seafood safety that will be of significant interest to both the research community and the industrial sector.