TOXINS IN THE CIGUATERA FOOD CHAIN

In contrast to tetrodotoxin, the water-soluble toxin found in the family of the puffer fishes, Tetraodontidae, the toxins found in certain reef and benthic marine fishes and other invertebrates which cause ciguatera have not been isolated and prepared in crystalline form. Of the ciguatera-type toxins, two have been studied more extensively than others as concentrated “syrups” – ciguatoxin, a fat-soluble material, and ciguaterin which is water-soluble. Because of our lack of knowledge of the pharmacological and toxicological properties of the toxins which cause ciguatera, the treatment of human ciguatera intoxications remains essentially symptomatic.