Anisakis simplex infection in mackerel: a reliable laboratory exercise to demonstrate important principles in parasitology to undergraduates

Coombs, I., Tatner, M. and Paterson, V. (2013) Anisakis simplex infection in mackerel: a reliable laboratory exercise to demonstrate important principles in parasitology to undergraduates. Journal of Biological Education, 47(2), pp. 128-133. (doi: 10.1080/00219266.2013.773362)

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Abstract

Practical laboratory work in parasitology can be very limited, due to the difficulty in maintaining multi-host parasite life cycles, especially for a large, once-yearly undergraduate laboratory class for life science students. The use of mackerel, Scomber scombrus, bought from a local fishmonger, is an ideal model to investigate important parameters of infection with the nematode worm, Anisakis simplex. This simple experiment, involving nothing more than measurements, dissection and observation, yields reliable data to demonstrate the principles of the intensity, prevalence and overdispersion of infection, and allows statistical analysis of any variation in these parameters in relation to the weight and sex of the fish host.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Tatner, Dr Mary and Coombs, Dr Isabel and Paterson, Dr Victoria
Authors: Coombs, I., Tatner, M., and Paterson, V.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
Journal Name:Journal of Biological Education
ISSN:0021-9266
ISSN (Online):2157-6009

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