Ciguatoxin-like substances in edible fish on the eastern Mediterranean.
BACKGROUND
The consumption of edible fish (e.g., Siganus spp) was assumed to have caused ciguatera poisoning at an atypical site, the eastern Mediterranean. This pilot study assesses the presence of ciguatoxin-like substances in edible fish on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Israel.


METHODS
Samples of Siganus rivulatus from polluted seawater (Haifa Bay), Siganus rivulatus from relatively clean seawater (Dor), and fish from the freshwater Sea of Galilee not inhabited by toxic algae were analyzed during summertime. Ciguatoxin-like substances were tested by a membrane immunobead assay that yields a color reaction (positive, weakly positive, negative).


RESULTS
Significantly more large and small fish from Haifa Bay yielded positive color reactions compared to fish from Dor. Sea of Galilee fish gave no positive color reactions.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest the presence of ciguatoxin-like substances in edible fish of the eastern Mediterranean. Additional analyses are needed to determine whether these substances are ciguatoxins or related polyethers.
Bentur
Yedidia
Y
Israel Poison Information Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel. d_bentur@rambam.health.gov.il
Spanier
Ehud
E
D000818:Animals; D002922:Ciguatoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005618:Fresh Water; D007557:Israel; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D010473:Perciformes / Q000254:growth & development; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014876:Water Pollution
D002922:Ciguatoxins