Ciguatera fish poisoning on the West Africa Coast: An emerging risk in the Canary Islands (Spain)

Toxicon. 2010 Dec;56(8):1516-9. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2010.07.021. Epub 2010 Aug 6.

Abstract

Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is endemic in certain tropical and subtropical regions of the world. CFP had not been described on the West Africa Coast until a 2004 outbreak in the Canary Islands. In 2008-2009, two additional outbreaks of ciguatera occurred. Individuals afflicted had consumed lesser amberjack (Seriola rivoliana) captured from nearby waters. Caribbean ciguatoxin-1 (C-CTX-1) was confirmed in fish samples by LC-MS/MS. Ciguatoxic fish in this region may pose a new health risk for the seafood consumer.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ciguatera Poisoning / epidemiology*
  • Ciguatoxins / chemistry
  • Ciguatoxins / metabolism
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Fishes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Risk Assessment
  • Seafood / poisoning*
  • Spain / epidemiology

Substances

  • Ciguatoxins