Interference of Essential Oils on the Motility of Anisakis Larvae

A variety of essential oils have been used since antiquity in the treatment of different infectious diseases. Several nematicidal compounds have been isolated from plants and some essential oils and their components have been evaluated for their nematicidal activity, such as essential oils of Pelargonium graveolens, Ocinum sanctum, Ocimum basilicum, Mentha piperita, and M. spicata and their main components (citronellol, eugenol, geraniol, and linalool). The lack of compounds for the effective treatment of anisakiasis combined with reports on the biocidal activity of different products of natural origin prompted research into the activity of various vegetable extracts and essences or their components against A. simplex third-stage larvae. A group of researchers from Spain demonstrated the activity of some essential oils against A. simplex. Taking into account this background, the objective of this PhD thesis was to evaluate the in vitro effects of different essential oils, neem oil, and trans-anethole on the motility of L3 of Anisakis simplex. In order to obtain more accurate data about the interference of EO on the motility of third-stage larvae, the possible application of an apparatus for imaging and tracking worms inside an incubator was investigated. Given the increasing consumption of fishery products, a preliminary study on the prevalence of Anisakid parasites in fish species commonly found in the Italian seas was also conducted.