Ciguatera Fish Poisoning

This is the most common form of toxin-related food poisoning in the United States. It is caused by eating fish that contain a ciguatoxin. The toxin has been found in over 400 varieties of fish, with fish from tropical waters being particularly suspect. Although less than 1 percent of fish found in tropical areas with coral reefs are actually contaminated, more than one-third of Florida barracuda were found to contain ciguatera toxin, resulting in a ban on the sale of barracuda for human consumption. Other fish that tend to harbor ciguatoxin are grouper, snapper, jack, triggerfish, and mackerel. Heating does not destroy the toxin.

Exposure to ciguatoxin affects the gastrointestinal system with diarrhea, abdominal, pain, nausea, and vomiting: the central nervous system with numbness, dizziness, tingling, hallucinations, muscle pain, and visual disturbance: and the cardiovascular system with rapid or slow heart rate and shortness of breath. Symptoms appear within 6 to 24 hours, and neurological symptoms may persist for weeks or months and can even result in death if not treated.