quote:Originally posted by LastChance
Anyone know how you'd tell if you picked something up from raw fish? As in making sushi on the boat right after you catch one?
There's only a few parasites of fish (that we know of) that are a concern (mostly tapeworms) to humans, as fish are ectotherms (i.e. cold-blooded), while humans, bears, and marine mammals are not.
The parasites that also use a mammal as a secondary host (look back over the past few postings - they are in there) - would be considered a problem, and the most risky for us humans to interact with. Most parasites are also easily treated with todays medical science, if one does get infected.
Having said that - who likes to get infected? So, don't put any strange stuff (pustules, worms, etc) from gutting fish near where you might eat it raw, accidentally. Wash your hands, too.
As mentioned in a previous posting - the broad tapeworm, Diphyllobothrium spp., which can be found in fish - occasionally infects people.
There are usually no initial symptoms. Tapeworm infection is usually recognized when the infected person passes segments of tapeworms (called proglottids) in the stool. When symptoms are present, the most common symptoms are; hunger, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss. These symptoms usually show much later after the initial infection - as the number of parasites multiply. Great topic for everyone, eh?
Sushi is raw meat, right? Not intestines and faecal matter (where you would expect to find tapeworms) - if processed and cleaned properly. So, you wouldn't expect sushi to be much risk.
Maybe someone else has more info to pass on here?