[Imported food poisoning caused by fish toxins (ciguatoxin)]

Various types of fish-poisoning mainly occur in tropical areas. Saxitoxin, tetrodotoxin, scombrotoxin and clupeotoxin are heat labile while ciguatoxin, in contrast, is heat stable thus it may be the source of severe poisoning even in case of thorough cooking and baking. In December 1987 a mass alimentary poisoning occurred following ingestion of fish meat in a group returning from Cuba. The most severe case was admitted to our department with symptoms of extended paresis. Diagnosis of ciguatoxin poisoning was established based upon the history, clinical features and laboratory results. Nowadays exotic, remote "Fish-poisoning" cases have to be taken into consideration even in our country.