PART I— HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 



Introduction 



Ciguatera, poisoning due to the ingestion of the flesh of certain 

 species of fish, has been known for a number of centuries in the sub- 

 tropical and tropical waters of the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, 

 and Pacific Ocean, The writings of early colonists of the Caribbean Islands 

 and explorers of the Pacific Islands make numerous references to this 

 phenomenon, A review of the literature on Ciguatera reveals that most of 

 the material written previous to the latter part of the 19th century is of 

 historical interest only. The more recent of the investigations have been 

 primarily concerned with reporting the oases, the symptomology of the 

 poisoning, and the species of fish involved , The causative agent or agents 

 responsible for the poisoning have never been demonstrated, except in the 



case of poisoning by species of puffers (Tetrodon spp,). 



Origin of the Term "Ciguatera" 



"Ciguatera " is the term popularly used for fish poisoning in the 

 West Indies, The origin of this term has been traced by Poey (1866) to the 

 early Spanish settlers of Cuba, who used it in reference to the digestive 

 and nervous upsets caused by the ingestion of the snail ( Turbo pica), 

 commonly known as the Cigua, In time the term was extended to similar 

 digestive and nervous upsets caused by any type of seafood. It is sometimes 

 used in the literature in reference to the frequently fatal poisoning caused 

 by the ingestion of species of puffers (Tetrodon spp,) and porcupine fish 

 (Diodon spp,). However, in this paper it shall be applied more specifically 

 to the nonfatal poisoning caused by the ingestion of other species of fish. 

 For a review of Tetrodon fish poisoning, the reader is referred to Yudkin 

 (l9Uh)o ■ 



Species of Fish Involved 



From time to time numerous species of fish have been reported 

 responsible for poisoning outbreaks. However, not all fish of a given 

 species are toxic. It is known that of fish caught in the same area, at 

 the same time, and of the same species, some will prove to be toxic while 

 others will be nontoxic. No data are available as to the proportion of 

 fish of a so-called "poisonous species" which may be expected to prove toxic 

 Lists of fish which have caused poisoning or which have been suspected of 

 causing poisoning have been compiled by Poey (1866), Gatewood (1909), 

 Seale (1912), Mowbray (1916), Phisalix (1922), Hoffmann (1927 and 1931). 

 and Gilman (19^2), 



