Scientists make regular visits to fish collection points, where fish are sorted, in order to select material for detailed parasitological studies in the laboratory.
So, ichthyopathologists of the St. Petersburg branch of VNIRO A.S. Dudin and F.V. Vasiliev visited the fish receiving point of LLC R/X "Ligovo", located in the village of Strelna. Several species of fish (15 specimens each) were selected for parasitological analysis in the laboratory, including the main object of seasonal fishing — smelt.
The conducted desk studies have shown that smelt completely lacks the parasites included in the EAEU TR 040/2016 as species that pose a danger to human health.
Nevertheless, in 13% of the studied individuals (2 out of 15 specimens), fairly large roundworms (nematodes) up to 10 mm long and 1-2 parasites per fish were found in the swim bladder. The worms were identified as Cystidicola farionis.
It is important to note: This nematode is exclusively a parasite of fish and poses no danger to any other animals, including humans. The detection of this species does not affect the sanitary quality of products and is within the natural epizootic situation for wild populations.
Specialists from the fish diseases sector of the St. Petersburg branch of VNIRO emphasize that research will continue until the end of the spring Putin.
VNIRO Press Service