Palytoxin poisoning after dermal contact with zoanthid coral.
BACKGROUND
Palytoxin is most commonly reported after ingestion of seafood. We report a case of palytoxin poisoning from dermal absorption with local toxicity from zoanthid coral in a patient with intact skin.


METHODS
A 25-year-old previously healthy woman handled a zoanthid coral from a home aquarium without any barrier protection. The patient manifested neurologic symptoms of perioral paresthesia and dysguesia. In addition, there was local dermatologic toxicity that persisted for several days. The patient was treated supportively with corticosteroids and a histamine antagonist.


CONCLUSIONS
We report a case of palytoxin poisoning from dermal absorption after handling a zoanthid coral. Palytoxin is a potent marine toxin that affects the sodium-potassium ATPase (adenosinetriphosphatase) pump and can cause multiple clinical effects, including paresthesia, dysguesia, hypertension, respiratory depression, coma, and death.
Nordt
Sean Patrick
SP
Division of Medical Toxicology and Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California 92103-8925, USA.
Wu
Jerry
J
Zahller
Stephen
S
Clark
Richard F
RF
Cantrell
F Lee
FL
D000178:Acrylamides / Q000506:poisoning*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012869:Skin Absorption; D000095702:Polyether Toxins
D000178:Acrylamides; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms; C010272:palytoxin; D000095702:Polyether Toxins