Introduction to Human Nutrition

Food Safety 347

Table 14.9

Types of fi sh poisoning

Poisoning

Implicated foods

Associated toxin

Symptoms

Occurrence

Paralytic shellfi sh

poisoning

Mussels, oysters, clams or scallops that have

fed on toxigenic dinofl agellates (

Gonyaulax

spp.)

Saxitoxins

Neurotoxic; symptoms include numbness, tingling and

burning of the lips, staggering, drowsiness, and in severe cases respiratory paralysis

Worldwide

Amnesic shellfi sh

poisoning

Mussels and clams that have recently fed on a

marine diatom

Nitzchia pungens

, viscera of

crabs and anchovies

Domoic acid

Vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, disorientation, and diffi

culty in

breathing

USA, Canada, and Europe

Diarrhetic shellfi sh

poisoning

Toxic mussels, clams, and scallops that have

fed on marine dinofl agellates (

Dinophysis

spp.)

Okadaic acid

and associated toxins

Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea

Europe, Japan, Chile, New

Zealand, and Canada

Neurotoxic shellfi sh

poisoning

Shellfi sh that have fed on the dinofl agellate

Gymnodinidum breve

Brevitoxins

Nausea, diarrhea, tingling and burning of the lips, tongue,

and throat

Florida coast and Gulf of Mexico

Azaspiracid shellfi sh

poisoning

Mussels, oysters, clams, scallops, and razor

fi s h

Azaspiracid

Nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, and stomach cramps

Ireland, suspected cases in

Norway, the Netherlands, Scotland, and Japan

Ciguatera fi sh

poisoning

Flesh of toxic reef fi sh from tropical areas

feeding on dinofl agellates (

Gambierdiscus

toxicus

) and their toxins. Common species

are amberjack, barracuda, moray eel, groupers, trevally, Spanish mackerel, and snapper

Ciguatera

Gastrointestinal (diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain,

nausea); neurological (paresthesia of the extremities, circumoral paresthesia, temperature reversal, ataxia, arthralgia, malign headache, severe pruritus, vertigo, and stiffness, convulsions, delirium, hallucinations, photophobia, transient blindness, salivation, perspiration, watery eyes, metallic taste in mouth, blurred vision, hiccups, exacerbation of acne, dysuria); cardiovascular (dyspnea, bradycardia, hypotension, tachycardia)

Tropical reef waters, particularly

in the island states of the South Pacifi c

Scombroid or

histamine poisoning

Consumption of scombroid and scombroid-

like marine fi sh species that have not been chilled immediately after capture. Commonly involved are members of the Scombridae family, e.g., tuna and mackerel, and a few nonscombrid relatives, e.g., bluefi sh, dolphin fi sh, and amberjack

Scombroid or

histamine.

Initial symptoms are that of an allergic response with

facial fl ushing and sweating, burning–peppery taste sensations around the mouth and throat, dizziness, nausea, and headache. A facial rash can develop as well as mild diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Severe cases may blur vision and cause respiratory stress and swelling of the tongue. Symptoms usually last for approximately 4–6 h and rarely exceed 1–2 days

Worldwide

Puffer fi sh

poisoning

Consumption of fi sh species belonging to the

Tetraodontidea family, particularly those species caught in waters of the Indo-Pacifi c Ocean regions

Tetrodotoxin

Symptoms of puffer fi sh poisoning are similar to paralytic

shellfi sh poisoning as the actions of both toxins are similar. Mild poisoning results in tingling and numbness of the lips, tongue, and fi ngers, and in severe cases death by asphyxiation due to respiratory paralysis

Most frequent in Japan, where

puffer fi sh (called fugu in Japan) are eaten as a delicacy, Indo-Pacifi c Ocean region