Dar seafood ppp standard

Acanthocephala (spiny headed worms)

These burrowing worms are widespread in nature, infecting amphipod crustaceans, freshwater and marine fish, and other, non-aquatic, species. They are intestinal parasites, and may cause an inflammatory response at the site of proboscis attachment, although usually there are no clinical signs. Wild aquatic birds (such as ducks, swans and geese), dogs, pigs and monkeys are the definitive hosts. These worms are considered to pose little risk to humans because they are relatively scarce in the fish eaten by man, and because the worms are usually localised in the viscera of fish, and thus less likely to be eaten (M&S Food Consultants 2001).