Human cases of gastric anisakiasis caused by the zoonotic parasite Anisakis pegreffii are increasing in Italy. The disease is caused by ingestion of larval nematodes in lightly cooked or raw seafood. Because symptoms are vague and serodiagnosis is difficult, the disease is often misdiagnosed and cases are understimated.
Keywords: Anisakis pegreffii; allergic reaction; anisakiasis; gastroallergic anisakiasis; helminth antigens; molecular diagnostic techniques; parasite; sequences analysis DNA; zoonoses; zoonosis.