History of Discovery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:So4b-08.jpg
Electron micrograph enlargement of Anisakis simplex.

Anisakiasis was first isolated in the Netherlands in the 1950s. An operation on a patient suffering from acute entritis of the ileum produced a 3rd-stage larva. The parasite was identified to be an Anisakis worm.
However, in actuality, the parasite has been known to invade and cause disease in the human gut since the early 19th century! Some believe it has recently resurfaced as a public health challenge because of advancements in refrigeration.
Statistics on Anisakiasis infection are not always reliable because the disease is often misdiagnosed. Very few cases have been reported in the United States.

Reference: http://www.tmd.ac.jp/med/mzoo/vlm/anisakiasis.html