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> Ciguatera Toxin
Ciguatera Toxin
What is it?
Ciguatera refers to a poisoning that occurs
after eating tropical reef fish which contain toxins
produced by a microalgae called Gambierdiscus toxicus.
Symptoms
Symptoms can occur up to one hour after
eating tropical reef fish, and may be both gastrointestinal
(GI) and neurological. GI symptoms, such as vomiting,
diarrhea, and abdominal pain, occur first, usually within 24
hours.
Neurological symptoms may include pain,
weakness, or tingling in the legs, fingers, and toes. In
addition, several people have reported temperature reversals,
such as cold things tasting hot and hot things tasting cold,
along with a sensation of “aching teeth.”
Symptoms usually go away within 1-7 days, but in some cases may last for years. In severe cases,
neurological symptoms may progress to coma and respiratory
arrest in the first 24 hours of the illness.
Transmission
Reef fish feed on the microalgae, and in turn,
they become toxic. The toxicity is magnified up the food
chain, meaning that when larger fish eat the toxic fish,
they also become toxic. Large, predatory fish become the
most toxic. In addition, when a person eats a toxic, large,
predatory fish, they become poisoned with ciguatera.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on symptoms and a history
of recently eating a particular kind of seafood.
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Treatment
Symptoms are treated, but ciguatera has no
cure.
Prevention
Ciguatera is most commonly found in areas
where people consume reef fish, especially Australia, the
Caribbean, Hawaii, southern Florida, and the South
Pacific. Eating large predatory fish, such as barracuda,
should be avoided when visiting these areas. In addition,
cooking spoiled or toxic seafood will NOT keep you safe, as
Ciguatera is NOT destroyed by the cooking process.
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