Ciguatera is one of the largest sources of food poisoning.
It is caused by the ingestion of a variety of reef fish that have
accumulated trace amounts of ciguatoxins of dinoflagellate
origin via the food chain.1–4
Annually, more than 20,000
people suffer from ciguatera, particularly in subtropical and
tropical regions. Ingestion of affected fish leads to various disorders involving the neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems. The most prominent symptom is a sensory
disorder causing a reversal in temperature perception. Such
neurological disorders may last months or longer, while in
severe cases paralysis, coma, and death may occur. The lethal
potencies of ciguatoxins (LD50 = 0.25–4mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection into mice2–6 are much greater than the structurally related red-tide toxins, brevetoxins.9–12 Ciguateric fish look, taste, and smell the same as uncontaminated fish. Difficulties in predicting, detecting, and treating ciguatera have a significant economic and human health impact. Pharmacological studies have indicated that ciguatoxins exert their
potent toxicities by binding to VSSC, which results in
persistent activation of the channels.13–17 The site-specificity
and selective function of these toxins may serve for investigation into the activation and gating mechanisms of the
channels.
It is caused by the ingestion of a variety of reef fish that have
accumulated trace amounts of ciguatoxins of dinoflagellate
origin via the food chain.1–4
Annually, more than 20,000
people suffer from ciguatera, particularly in subtropical and
tropical regions. Ingestion of affected fish leads to various disorders involving the neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems. The most prominent symptom is a sensory
disorder causing a reversal in temperature perception. Such
neurological disorders may last months or longer, while in
severe cases paralysis, coma, and death may occur. The lethal
potencies of ciguatoxins (LD50 = 0.25–4mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection into mice2–6 are much greater than the structurally related red-tide toxins, brevetoxins.9–12 Ciguateric fish look, taste, and smell the same as uncontaminated fish. Difficulties in predicting, detecting, and treating ciguatera have a significant economic and human health impact. Pharmacological studies have indicated that ciguatoxins exert their
potent toxicities by binding to VSSC, which results in
persistent activation of the channels.13–17 The site-specificity
and selective function of these toxins may serve for investigation into the activation and gating mechanisms of the
channels.
