A common type of fish parasite can prevent the accumulation of heavy metals from pollution in the fish’s tissues, making the fish safer for humans to eat, a study by the Institute of Biological Sciences of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) has found. Species of Acanthocephala (namely Acanthogyrus sp.), also known as the thorny-headed worm, can infect fish but they bring more help than harm, the UPLB study, which was supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), found. The study found that fishes infected with parasites (parasitized) have lower levels of heavy metals compared with fishes not infected by parasites (non-parasitized). The study found that fishes infected with parasites (parasitized) have lower levels of heavy metals compared with fishes not infected by parasites (non-parasitized).

Fish parasites may prevent human intake of heavy metals - study. ( 2016, October 20). The Manila Times, p. B6.