Ciguatera Poisoning: Clinical and Immunological Aspects

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Abstract
Ciguatera poisoning refers to a type of fish intoxication following consumption of fishes contaminated with ciguatoxin (CTX). The latter toxin originates in a dinoflagellate designated Gambierdiscus toxicus, passes through herbivorous and then to carnivorous fishes along the food chain, ultimately to man. Ciguatera poisoning is unlike tetrodotoxin or scombroid fish poisonings. The Eormer is due to a toxin isolated From puffer fish and the latter to histamine-like degradation products due to bacterial spoilage of fish fissues. Ten minutes Lo 24 hr after consumption of a CTX contaminated fish, clinical symptoms involving the gastroinlestinal, neurological and cardiovascular systems are manifested. The neurological symptoms may persist for munths in some individuals. Ciguatera poisoning is rarely fatal (less than 0.5%). Therapy at best is symptomatic with no specific drugs. Detection in fisti tissues depends on the mouse test Eollowing extraction of the toxin in organic solvents and more recently an immunological approach using specific anti-CTX monoclonal antibody. The stick test is rapid, simple, and specific and requires nu laboratory equipment. It is hoped to adapt the stick test for wide scale use in screening fishes for markets in the endemic areas of the tropical regions.

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