What type of toxin is ciguatera?
What type of toxin is ciguatera?
What type of toxin is ciguatera?
Ciguatera toxicity is a food-borne illness caused by eating fish contaminated with Ciguatoxin. This toxin is a potent neurotoxin, and it is produced by Dinoflagellates, such as Gambierdiscus toxicus. They adhere to algae, coral, and seaweed, where herbivorous fish eat them.
What causes CFP?
Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP), also known simply as ciguatera, is a foodborne illness caused by eating reef fish whose flesh is contaminated with certain toxins. Such individual fish are said to be ciguatoxic.
What disease does barracuda carry?
The most commonly reported marine toxin disease in the world is Ciguatera, associated with consumption of contaminated reef fish such as barracuda, grouper, and snapper.
What is the etiological agent of ciguatera?
Ciguatera fish poisoning (or ciguatera) is an illness caused by eating fish that contain toxins produced by a marine microalgae called Gambierdiscus toxicus. People who have ciguatera may experience nausea, vomiting, and neurologic symptoms such as tingling fingers or toes.
How do you prevent ciguatera poisoning?
Travelers can take the following precautions to prevent ciguatera fish poisoning:
- Avoid or limit consumption of reef fish.
- Never eat high-risk fish such as barracuda or moray eel.
- Avoid eating the parts of the fish that concentrate ciguatera toxin: liver, intestines, roe, and head.
What are the effects of ciguatoxin?
Ciguatera presents primarily as an acute neurologic disease manifested by multiple gastrointestinal (diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting) and cardiovascular (arrhythmias and heart block) signs and symptoms within a few hours of contaminated fish ingestion, followed by neurologic manifestations (paresthesias, pain …
How is ciguatera treated?
The treatment for ciguatera fish poisoning is usually the immediate pumping out of all stomach contents (gastric lavage). If this treatment is not available, then vomiting should be induced by the administration of syrup of ipecac.
How long can ciguatera poisoning last?
Irregular heart rhythms and low blood pressure may also be experienced. Ciguatera poisoning symptoms typically resolve within several days, but may last up to 4 weeks. The symptoms of ciguatera poisoning may resemble other medical conditions.