Human fatality associated with Pacific ciguatoxin contaminated fish
Brett Hamilton1, Nigel Whittle, Glen Shaw
1The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
Summary
Ciguatera poisoning, a risk from eating tropical fish, can be fatal. This study found multiple ciguatoxins (P-CTXs) in fish and human liver, confirming lethal accumulation in reef fish, especially when organs are consumed.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Toxicology
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Ciguatera fish poisoning is a significant health concern in Oceania.
- It results from consuming fish contaminated with ciguatoxins.
- Symptoms include gastrointestinal and neurological effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of ciguatoxins in a fatal human case.
- To analyze forensic samples from a fatality linked to tropical fish consumption.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a (3H)-brevetoxin binding assay.
- Employed reversed-phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (HPLC/MS) and tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS).
- Analyzed fish flesh and post-mortem human liver samples.
Main Results:
- Detected three Pacific ciguatoxins (P-CTXs) in the implicated fish flesh.
- Identified ciguatoxin in the human liver sample.
- Quantified ciguatoxin levels, indicating significant accumulation (0.14 ppb P-CTX-1 equivalents).
Conclusions:
- Multiple P-CTXs can contribute to fatal ciguatera poisoning.
- Tropical reef fish can accumulate lethal levels of ciguatoxins.
- Consumption of fish organs like the liver increases risk due to toxin accumulation.
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