The author investigated the larvicidal action of liquid nitrogen against the metacercariae of Clonorchis sinensis, with an observation on the freshness and change of taste in the flesh of fishes. The results obtained were as follows: The metacercariae in the flesh of Pseudorasbora parva, which were treated with liquid nitrogen (-192C), were not killed within 10 seconds, but completely killed over 30 seconds. In comparison, the metacercariae in the flesh of P. parva kept in a refrigerator (-12C) were killed only in 84 percent in 10-hour exposure group. The freezing speed of fishes by liquid nitrogen was 4 min. (') and 15 seconds(") for Cyprinus carpio, 1'22'' for Carassius carassius and only 30'', for Pseudorasbora parva. As for the freshness and taste of raw fresh water fishes, they were not deteriorated after the treatment with liquid nitrogen. In animal infection experiment of C. sinensis metacercariae after freezing, they were found not infective after they were treated with liquid nitrogen. From the results, it is inferred that the treatment of fresh water fishes for longer than 30 seconds with liquid nitrogen is helpful to reduce the possibility of C. sinensis infection without alteration of the freshness and taste of fishes.
