Ciguatoxin
Ciguatoxin
Ciguatoxin (pronounced: sig-wah-tox-in) is a type of toxin that is produced by certain species of microalgae. It is one of the most common causes of fish poisoning in the world.
Etymology
The term "ciguatoxin" is derived from the Spanish word "ciguatera", which refers to the illness caused by consuming fish contaminated with this toxin. The word "ciguatera" itself is believed to have originated from the Caribbean Taino language, where "cigua" means "fish" and "tera" means "poison".
Description
Ciguatoxin is a very potent neurotoxin that is heat-stable, meaning it cannot be destroyed by cooking. It is produced by the dinoflagellate species Gambierdiscus toxicus, which is found in tropical and subtropical waters. These microalgae are eaten by herbivorous fish, which are then eaten by larger predatory fish, leading to bioaccumulation of the toxin in the food chain.
When humans consume fish contaminated with ciguatoxin, they can develop a condition known as ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP). Symptoms of CFP can include gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and neurological effects, and can last for weeks to years.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ciguatoxin
- Wikipedia's article - Ciguatoxin
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