A recent study highlights that over 90% of popular freshwater fish in Southern California are infected with trematodes, a type of human-infecting parasite that can cause serious health issues. The two identified species, Haplorchis pumilio and Centrocestus formosanus, have been problematic in Southeast Asia, suggesting their introduction to the U.S. was likely due to invasive snail species. This raises awareness about the risks of consuming locally caught fish, emphasizing that even mild infections can lead to significant health repercussions.
In some rare and severe cases, the parasites have caused strokes or heart attacks. 'Americans don't usually think about parasites when they eat freshwater fish because it hasn't historically been an issue here,' said Ryan Hechinger.
Researchers identified two species of trematode: Haplorchis pumilio and Centrocestus formosanus. These two parasite species have historically infected people in Southeast Asia who eat raw fish.
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