title: Contribution to the risk characterization of ciguatoxins: LOAEL estimated from eight ciguatera fish poisoning events in Guadeloupe (French West Indies).
abstract: From 2010 to 2012, 35 ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) events involving 87 individuals who consumed locally-caught fish were reported in Guadeloupe (French West Indies). For 12 of these events, the presence of ciguatoxins (CTXs) was indicated in meal remnants and in uncooked fish by the mouse bioassay (MBA). Caribbean ciguatoxins (C-CTXs) were confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Using a cell-based assay (CBA), and the only available standard Pacific ciguatoxin-1 (P-CTX-1), the lowest toxins level detected in fish samples causing CFP was 0.022 µg P-CTX-1 equivalent (eq.)·kg(-1) fish. Epidemiological and consumption data were compiled for most of the individuals afflicted, and complete data for establishing the lowest observable adverse effects level (LOAEL) were obtained from 8 CFP events involving 21 individuals. Based on toxin intakes, the LOAEL was estimated at 4.2 ng P-CTX-1 eq./individual corresponding to 48. 4 pg P-CTX-1 eq.kg(-1) body weight (bw). Although based on limited data, these results are consistent with the conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion which indicates that a level of 0.01 µg P-CTX-1 eq.kg(-1) fish, regardless of source, should not exert effects in sensitive individuals when consuming a single meal. The calculated LOAEL is also consistent with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance levels for CTXs (0.1 µg C-CTX-1 eq.kg(-1) and 0.01 µg P-CTX-1 eq.kg(-1) fish).
authors.affiliation: Université Paris-Est, ANSES-Laboratory for Food Safety, National Reference Laboratory for the Control of Marine biotoxins, 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hossen
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Ctra. Poble Nou km 5.5, Sant Carles de la Rapita, Spain.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soliño
authors.affiliation: Université Paris-Est, ANSES-Laboratory for Food Safety, National Reference Laboratory for the Control of Marine biotoxins, 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Agriculture, Direction de l'Alimentation de l'Agriculture et de la Forêt de Guadeloupe, Abymes, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Agriculture, General Directorate for Food, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Velge
authors.affiliation: Université Paris-Est, ANSES-Laboratory for Food Safety, National Reference Laboratory for the Control of Marine biotoxins, 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701 Maisons-Alfort, France. Electronic address: Sylviane.dragacci@anses.fr.
authors.forename: Sylviane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dragacci
authors.affiliation: Université Paris-Est, ANSES-Laboratory for Food Safety, National Reference Laboratory for the Control of Marine biotoxins, 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krys
authors.affiliation: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Division of Seafood Science and Technology, Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory, 1 Iberville Drive, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA.
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flores Quintana
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Ctra. Poble Nou km 5.5, Sant Carles de la Rapita, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diogène
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D036841:Ciguatera Poisoning / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002922:Ciguatoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D019430:Guadeloupe; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D002922:Ciguatoxins
keywords: Ciguatera fish poisoning; Ciguatoxins; Guadeloupe; LOAEL; Mouse bioassay; Neuro-2A cell-based assay