ABSTRACT
This chapter provides state-of-the-art overviews on foodborne diseases caused by Diphyllobothrium, Adenocephalus, and Diplogonoporus in relation to their etiology, biology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Cestodes belonging to the genera Diphyllobothrium, Adenocephalus, and Diplogonoporus have a tape- or ribbon-like shape, and their larval plerocercoids that are parasitic in fish are infective to humans. The genus Adenocephalus was established to describe the Adenocephalus pacificus tapeworm isolated from fur seal in Chile and Adenocephalus septentrionalis collected from fur seal in Alaska. To overcome diagnostic limitations based on morphology, a variety of molecular methods have become available, mostly because of high specificity and accuracy. From public health points of view, given that the majority of the public are generally unaware of the risk of Diphyllobothrium infection associated with the consumption of raw fish, they may be prone to diphyllobothriosis.
