326 EIGHTH PACIFIC SCIENCE CONGRESS 



1. Tetraodon (Puffer) poisoning: The causative organism is a 

 puffer, one of the members of the suborder Tetraodontoidea. The 

 symptoms commonly noted are in time frequency numbness of the Hps, 

 tongue, tips of fingers and toes, which usually develops within 30 minutes 

 after the ingestion of the toxin. This is followed by nausea, vomiting, 

 headache, dizziness and extreme weakness. Power of speech becomes 

 impaired and dyspnea is marked. Within two hours as a loile, the 

 patient suffers complete paralysis with muscles relaxed, body limp, and 

 inability to speak although conscious. Just prior to death the patient 

 lapses into unconsciousness. Death generally occurs in severe cases with- 

 in 1 to 24 hours as a result of respiratory paralysis. Mortality rate is 

 estimated to be about 60 per cent. Prognosis is considered to be good 

 if the patient survives the first 24 hours. 



2. Gymnothorax {Moray eel) poisoniyig: The causative source is 

 a member of the genus Gymnothorax. Symptoms of tingling and numb- 

 ness about the lips, tongue, hands and feet usually develop within 20 

 minutes to 7 or 8 hours after ingestion of the toxin. Nausea, vomiting, 

 laryngeal spasm, aphonia, excessive mucus production, foaming at the 

 mouth, injection of the conjunctiva, paralysis of the respiratory muscles, 

 motor incoordination, violent clonic and tonic convulsions, abnoraial 

 deep and superficial reflexes and coma follow in rapid sequence. The 

 mortality rate is estimated to be about 10 per cent. 



3. Ciguatera: Numerous species of marine fishes are capable of 

 causing this type of poisoning. Tingling followed by numbness usually 

 develops almost immediately or within a period of 30 hours after in- 

 gestion of the toxin. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain 

 are present in about 75 per cent of the cases. Joint aches, malaise, chills, 

 fever, prostration, headache, profuse sweating, pruritus, metallic taste, 

 generalized motor incoordination, muscular weakness, and myalgia are 

 common. Sensory disturbances are present in most cases, hot objects 

 are interpreted as feeling cold and cold objects as hot or like "electric 

 shock" in typical complaints. Convulsions and severe paralyses are less 



. common. The m.ortality rate is comparatively low, estimated to be about 

 2 to 3 per cent, and recovery from severe intoxication is very sIoav, some- 

 times taking weeks or months to recover completely from the weakness 

 and myalgia. 



4. Scombroid poisoning: Members of the genera Eiithynnus and 

 Katsuwonus are common offenders. In rare instances these fishes may 

 produce symptoms typical of the ciguatera type of fish poisoning, but 

 more frequently the clinical characteristics are typical of a violent his- 

 tamin-like reaction. It is the only form of ichthyosarcotoxism known 

 in which inadequate preservation or freshness of the fish appears to be 



