title: [Puffer fish poisoning in Madagascar: four case reports].
abstract: An outbreak of puffer fish poisoning in a family with four cases of which one was fatal is reported. The outbreak occurred in July 1998 in Nosy Be, an island located at the north-western part of Madagascar. Diagnostic investigation with application of the mouse bioassay suggested poisoning with a tetrodotoxin as the etiology. The amount of the toxin was 16 MU (mouse unit) per gram meal. A continuing surveillance of the seafood intoxications either in the country or in the west Indian Ocean region is needed.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ravaonindrina
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Andriamaso
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rasolofonirina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001681:Biological Assay; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008270:Madagascar / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011634:Public Health; D023721:Tetraodontiformes; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D013779:Tetrodotoxin