ABSTRACT
Anisakids are nematodes whose definitive hosts are marine mammals; intermediate hosts are crustaceans (L2), fish, and cephalopods (L3), and they have a worldwide distribution. Using classical techniques, namely morphological taxonomy, human anisakidosis is most frequently described as being caused by Anisakis and Pseudoterranova genus. As presented in the short epidemiological and taxonomical review of the anisakid family along with the review of laboratory models used to study anisakiosis, there are still many open questions regarding the life cycle, host–pathogen interaction, pathogenesis, and immune response of the anisakid family larvae. Within the Ascaridoidea superfamily, the Anisakidae family is considered the largest and includes species that can parasitize fish, reptiles, mammals, and fish-eating birds. Although in vitro cultivation techniques are used more often than in vivo techniques, the in vivo techniques are sometimes used for diagnosing parasitic infections such as trypanosomiasis and toxoplasmosis. Parasite cultivation continues to be a challenging diagnostic option.
