Ciguatera toxicity is a food-borne illness caused by eating fish contaminated with Ciguatoxin. This toxin is a potent neurotoxin, and it is produced by Dinoflagellates, such as
Gambierdiscus toxicus
. They adhere to algae, coral, and seaweed, where herbivorous fish eat them.
Is ciguatera a toxin bacteria?
Ciguatera fish poisoning is caused by a
toxin
(ciguatoxin) found in tropical or subtropical fish during certain times of the year.
What type of toxin is ciguatera toxin?
Ciguatera toxin is
a heat-stable lipid soluble compound
, produced by dinoflagellates and concentrated in fish organs, that can cause nausea, pain, cardiac, and neurological symptoms in humans when ingested.
What is ciguatera toxin found in?
The source of the toxin responsible for ciguatera fish poisoning is found in high levels in a marine organism (
dinoflagellate Gamabierdiscus toxicus
) that typically inhabits low-lying tropical shore areas and coral reefs.
What is a characteristic of ciguatera toxin?
Ciguatera toxin is
harmless to fish but poisonous to humans
. The toxin is odorless and tasteless, and it is heat-resistant, so cooking does not destroy the toxin. Eating ciguatera-contaminated tropical or subtropical fish poisons the person who eats it.
How do you prevent ciguatera poisoning?
- Avoid or limit consumption of reef fish.
- Never eat high-risk fish such as barracuda or moray eel.
- Avoid eating the parts of the fish that concentrate ciguatera toxin: liver, intestines, roe, and head.
Does ciguatera go away?
Ciguatera has no cure
. Symptoms usually go away in days or weeks but can last for years. People who have ciguatera can be treated for their symptoms.
What body system does ciguatera toxin directly affect?
Ciguatera toxin acts on sodium channels in cell membranes, inducing membrane depolarization in nerve cells and striated muscle. The predominant symptoms come from
the peripheral nervous system
and can last for many months. Rare fatalities have been reported from respiratory paralysis.
How common is ciguatera?
At least 50,000 people per year
who live in or visit tropical and subtropical areas suffer from Ciguatera worldwide. For example, CDC and others estimate that only 2-10% of Ciguatera cases are actually reported in the United States.
How do you tell if a fish has ciguatera?
Scombroid
How many people have died from ciguatera?
| Ciguatera fish poisoning | Differential diagnosis Paralytic shellfish poisoning, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, scombroid food poisoning, pufferfish poisoning | Treatment Mannitol, gabapentin, amitriptyline | Prognosis Risk of death < 0.1% | Frequency ≈50,000 per year |
|---|
How common is ciguatera fish poisoning?
At least 50,000 people per year
who live in or visit tropical and subtropical areas suffer from Ciguatera worldwide. For example, CDC and others estimate that only 2-10% of Ciguatera cases are actually reported in the United States.
How long can ciguatera poisoning last?
Irregular heart rhythms
What treatments are used for ciguatera toxin?
Treatment of ciguatera poisoning is primarily supportive.
Intravenous hydration with crystalloid and electrolyte replacement
may be necessary for dehydration. Severe or refractory hypotension may require a vasopressor. Antiemetics such as ondansetron may be beneficial.
What are the four fish that should never be eaten?
Making the “do not eat” list are
King Mackerel, Shark, Swordfish and Tilefish
. All fish advisories due to increased mercury levels should be taken seriously. This is especially important for vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and older adults.
Which fish are most toxic?
Pufferfish
(some species are also called toadfish) have been given the title ‘Most Poisonous Fish’ and have also been labeled the second most poisonous vertebrate in the world. The toxin responsible for ranking this fish so high in the “danger zone” is called tetrodotoxin.
