BACKGROUND Ciguatera is a type of fish poisoning that occurs throughout the tropics, particularly in vulnerable island communities such as the developing Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). After consuming ciguatoxin-contaminated fish, people report a range of acute neurologic, gastrointestinal, and cardiac symptoms, with some experiencing chronic neurologic symptoms lasting weeks...

The scombroid poisoning is due to the ingestion of poorly preserved fish (especially tuna, sardines, and mackerel) out of the cold chain. Under the influence of the proliferation of gram negative bacteria that occurs for heating, the histidine content in the muscle of the fish is converted into histamine, by the action of the enzyme histidine decarboxylase. If the histamine is ingested in large...

Human exposure to mercury intoxication through contaminated fish ingestion has been well studied, mainly among Japanese population. The Brazilian population, particularly in the Amazon region, is now in focus due to findings of fish contamination. Major health impacts caused by mercury affect mostly people who have a regular fish diet. A continuous checking for mercury content in the most consu...

Marine neurotoxins are natural products produced by phytoplankton and select species of invertebrates and fish. These compounds interact with voltage-gated sodium, potassium and calcium channels and modulate the flux of these ions into various cell types. This review provides a summary of marine neurotoxins, including their structures, molecular targets and pharmacologies. Saxitoxin and its der...

Kudoa septempunctata, a myxosporean parasite, was recently identified as the causative agent of food poisoning resulting from the consumption of raw olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). A single blind inter-laboratory study, involving 5 laboratories, was conducted to validate a quantitative real-time PCR assay for the detection of the parasite. We obtained relatively constant values for log...

The present study was undertaken to investigate whether treatment with vitamin E (VE) protects against intoxication induced by lead (Pb) exposure in Oreochromis niloticus. Fish were exposed for 60 days to a 10 mg Pb / Kg diet. The oxidative stress affected by Pb in fish was treated by antioxidant (VE) supplementation. Fish were assigned to four dietary groups. The diets differed in their consti...

into the rectum. Use of an injection to introduce venom would likely be noticed by the victim and should leave some mark. As death is rarely very rapid, there would usually be time for the victim to make known that he/she had been attacked, but this might not always be the case. Introduction of a venomous animal, especially a snake or scorpion, into sleeping quarters, might also result in effec...

Background:Toxic contamination of fish may compromise food safety. Haff disease is a rare syndrome characterized by rhabdomyolysis following consumption of cooked, freshwater fish. Case Report: A healthy 42 year old female presented three hours after eating fried buffalo fish (Ictiobus cyprinellis). Her symptoms began while eating the fish, described as diffuse muscle aches followed by generali...

During August 2010-July 2011, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) received reports of six outbreaks and one single case of ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP), involving a total of 28 persons. CFP results from consumption of certain large, predatory, tropical reef fish that have bioaccumulated ciguatoxins (CTX). CFP is characterized by various gastrointestinal, cardiova...

Histamine poisoning is one of the most common form of intoxication caused by the ingestion of fish and fishery products. Cooking, canning, or freezing cannot reduce the levels of histamine because this compound is heat stable. All humans are susceptible to histamine and its effects can be described as intolerance or intoxication depending on the severity of the symptoms. The amount of histamine...