[Histamine food poisoning]

The authors describe a collective histamine related food-poisoning epidemic that occurred in the Navy due to the consumption of imported smoked swordfish (Xyphias gladius). Twenty cases were detected. The relative risk among consumers of swordfish is at 7.44 (C.I. of 95%: 2.57-21.59) and the doses of histamine were from 2.030 to 4.750 ppm in 9 samples of tested fish (N < 200 ppm). The interest in using a high-resolution chromatographic liquid to ensure a diagnosis, and in using the community norms in force are shown. A recent review of the literature serves to show the variety of fish responsible for this type of accident, to insist on the mildness, elusiveness, variability, and lack of specificity of clinical signs and therefore risks error in diagnoses, treatment and under-reporting of this type of collective food-poisoning.