First identification of acute tetrodotoxin-associated food poisoning in Taiwan

Attempt was made to elucidate the responsible toxin in fish which recently caused food poisoning in Ilan County, Taiwan. The causative fish was assayed for anatomical distribution of toxicity (as tetrodotoxin). The roe showed the highest toxicity (1200 mouse units per gram, abbreviated as MU/g), followed by the dermis (150 MU/g) and muscle (120 MU/g). The toxins were partially purified from the methanolic extracts of the fish muscle and roe by ultrafiltration and Bio-Gel P-2 column chromatography. Thin-layer chromatography, cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography analysis demonstrated that the toxins consisted of tetrodotoxin and anhydrotetrodotoxin. It was concluded that the causative agent of the above food poisoning was tetrodotoxin.