Tropical fish poisoning in temperate climates: food poisoning from ciguatera toxin presenting in Avonmouth.
Ciguatera toxin causes a range of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neurological symptoms that occur within 1-6 h of ingesting fish with the toxin and can last for days, months or years. It is a well-recognized problem in the tropics. Avon Health Protection Team investigated food poisoning on a ship at Avonmouth, which was thought by the crew to be related to a white snapper fish from the Caribbean. The symptoms were initially thought to be scombroid fish poisoning but were consistent with ciguatera fish poisoning. Cases of fish poisoning from fish imported from the Caribbean and Pacific or travellers returning from tropical countries may be ciguatera fish poisoning, but mistakenly diagnosed as scombroid fish poisoning.
Kipping
Ruth
R
South Gloucestershire PCT, Emersons Green, South Gloucestershire BS16 7FH, UK. rrkipping@yahoo.co.uk
Eastcott
Howard
H
Sarangi
Joyshri
J
D000818:Animals; D017691:Caribbean Region; D036841:Ciguatera Poisoning / Q000209:etiology*; D002922:Ciguatoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017747:Seafood / Q000506:poisoning*; D012767:Ships; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel; D014329:Tropical Climate; D006113:United Kingdom
D002922:Ciguatoxins