Phylogeny of Anisakis Nematode Isolated from Saurida tumbil in the Sea of Oman Based on Mitochondrial CO1 Sequencing

Anisakis is a parasitic nematode that is found in a wide range of marine hosts. The fish، squid، and other invertebrates serve as the paratenic or the intermediate host. Anisakis is a common zoonotic parasitic disease that is the result of transmission of Anisakis at the larval stage to humans through the consumption of infected fish. The purpose of this study was to identify the molecular characteristics of the species of Anisakis using molecular technique in a commercial fish known as “Hassoon” (Saurida tumbil). In this study، Anisakis parasites were isolated from the abdomen of the Saurida tumbil fish. Morphological characteristics of parasites were identified based on diagnostic clues. The molecular identification of the Anisakis species was carried out by partial sequences of PCR CO1 gene cytochrome oxidase 1; then، the sequences obtained from the PCR product were compared with the sequences in the gene bank where Anisakis is recorded. Sequencing of the samples reveled that it was related to Anisakis pegreffii. In the present study، for the first time، diagnosis of the infection of Saurida tumbil with Anisakis was reported using molecular identification.