Application of High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry for Ciguatoxin Detection in Fish from the Asia-Pacific Region

Fish is a major source of protein in Asia-Pacific countries. Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP), caused by consuming reef fish contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs), poses a significant health risk, affecting the neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems. Climate change and the global food trade are potentially major factors contributing to the expanding geographical range and frequency of CFP outbreaks. Therefore, the surveillance and monitoring of CTXs in fishery products are essential to safeguard food safety. In this study, liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) was used to screen for CTXs in wild-caught fish from the region. Analysis of two grouper fish samples from Okinawa, Japan, detected CTX-1B, a major CTX known to incur in fish from the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, putative Indian Ocean CTXs (I-CTXs) were also identified. Further study with HRMS on wild-caught red emperor fish from Southeast Asia waters revealed low levels of I-CTXs as well. These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced food safety measures and expansion of monitoring protocols to include I-CTXs. This research contributes to the global understanding of CTX distribution and confirms the importance of HRMS application in routine surveillance to mitigate the risks associated with ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP).