Pelter fish: can it be eaten?

Solitaire is a tapeworm that lives and feeds at the expense of someone else's body. First of all, it is a parasite, which is being introduced and quietly developing in the body of fish, animals and man. Danger is represented by the worm larvae, which can enter the human intestine. Pelter fish, pork and beef meat are the main sources of infection. And if in the latter it is very difficult to detect these parasites, then in the first one you can see them with the naked eye. Not all fishermen throw such a catch. There is an opinion that this worm is not dangerous for humans. Is it really?

How to determine the salted fish ?

It should be noted right away that most parasites living in fish choose freshwater inhabitants. In Russia, it is difficult to find a reservoir completely cleared of helminths. Sewage, as well as the presence of birds and animals will necessarily lead to the fact that the inhabitants will be infected by one or another of their species. Pelter fish is most often found in natural water bodies. You can determine it by the swollen abdomen. With pressure, the tapeworm can come out. Such fish float on the surface. If they are caught and taken in hand, they immediately die. If there are white fish in your catch , such as roach or bream, carefully inspect them before you start to cut and cook.

Eating or not eating?

If you find a long white flat worm, reaching a size of 20-40 cm, then, therefore, before you are the fish of the nursery. And although in some sources you can find information that such a catch is possible, it is better not to take risks.

Even if you removed the worm, washed and fried the meat, there is always a risk that the eggs of the parasite will remain on your hands, clothes, cutlery, which, when you first enter the human body, will be transformed into larvae. Repeated infection threatens with the fact that a long tapeworm will settle in the intestine. Pelter fish, although less dangerous than beef and pork, is still its source. Eating or not eating is up to you.

How to protect yourself from a tapeworm parasite?

The worms in the fish will show up during evisceration, so it's easiest not to use this catch. With the meat of animals is more difficult. Living in the intestines of mammals, adults sow a huge number of eggs. In its entire life, a parasite can reproduce several million of them! These eggs come out with the feces of an animal on the grass. Pigs, rummaging in their own mud, very quickly swallow those of them that under the influence of gastric juice turn into larvae. The latter dissipate with blood flow throughout the body of the animal. This kind of meat is very dangerous. Poorly roasted or undercooked pork is the most contagious product, capable of inflicting enormous damage to a person's health. The same happens with cattle.

Doctors recommend always roasting and boiling meat. At home, it is easy, but a trip to nature with shish kebabs can lead to infection. It is highly undesirable to eat meat "with blood", it is better to keep it on fire than to get a "reward" in the form of helminths. Care should be taken to smoke the fish. If there is a suspicion of worms, then such a product is not suitable for hot, and even more so for cold smoking.