7 cases of tapeworm in Rennes, the sushi involved

At the University Hospital of Rennes, seven patients with fish tapeworm have been diagnosed, an "exceptional number on such a short period," said Florence Robert-Gangneux, professor in the laboratory of parasitology-mycology University Hospital, cited by 20 minutes.

More commonly known as "tapeworms", tapeworms are flatworms that parasitize the digestive tract of vertebrates. Taniasis is the disease determined by the presence of adult tapeworms in the small intestine of man. When the worm is growing, in the first few months after the infestation, it can cause digestive disorders and appetite. But when the worm has matured, it is often well tolerated and shows no symptoms.

Contaminated by imported fish

The survey conducted by the CHU estimates that sushi, maki and other sashimi are responsible for the epidemic. "It was realized that all patients were Japanese restaurant customers or regular sushi consumers," says Florence Robert-Gangneux, "and since none of them had recently traveled to Japan or the North Pacific, they had necessarily been contaminated by imported fish ".

Since these restaurants do not cook fish, those who do not freeze them do not kill the solitary potential that lodges there. To overcome the tapeworm, doctors usually prescribe a pest control drug, such as praziquantel or niclosamide. Once dead, the tapeworm is expelled with stool through natural channels.

Persistent digestive disorders

In case of persistent digestive disorders, Professor Robert-Gangneux advises to "consult and perform a stool parasitology examination". This is important because "in the long term, anemia can develop". Complications, very rare, can also occur, such as appendicitis or bowel obstruction. The worm can also trigger human cysticercosis, which can severely damage various organs such as the eye, heart, spinal cord and brain.