| What do barracuda, black grouper, amberjack and | | | | 5 days after eating the fish. Hot objects seem cold |
| blackfin snapper all have in common? They are | | | | and cold objects can give a shock-like sensation. |
| amongst the 400+ species of fish implicated in a | | | | There have been serious injuries because a person |
| food borne illness that's relatively common in the | | | | was unable to recognize extremely hot sensations. |
| Caribbean and parts of Florida. The food borne illness | | | | Other odd symptoms are food may taste metallic |
| is called ciguatera food poisoning. | | | | and teeth may seem painful or loose. |
| This toxin is the result of the accumulation of marine | | | | The gastrointestinal symptoms usually resolve in a |
| algae and the toxins they produce passing up the | | | | couple days; however neurological symptoms may |
| food chain. These marine algae hang on to dead coral | | | | last for months or years. Symptoms may come back |
| and seaweed. They are then eaten by herbivore fish | | | | after ingesting certain foods and drinks; alcohol, |
| which are subsequently eaten by predatory reef fish | | | | caffeine, nuts and fish. |
| which concentrates the toxin in its tissue. People get | | | | There are no laboratory tests to diagnose this |
| this food borne toxin from eating these | | | | disease and it's based on clinical symptoms and a |
| contaminated larger fish. The reef fishes are more | | | | history of eating an offending fish. Some studies |
| likely to get contaminated during storms and other | | | | have shown that IV mannitol is effective in providing |
| turbulence. | | | | relief and recovery if taken within the first 72 hours |
| After eating the affected fish (by the way the fish | | | | of intoxication. Other than that most treatment is for |
| does not get sick from the toxin and actually tastes | | | | the various symptoms the person may have. |
| good) in as little as a couple of hours symptoms may | | | | So how can you prevent getting this potentially |
| appear. Gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, | | | | serious toxin? Prevention can be difficult since the |
| nausea and vomiting tend to appear early. Then a | | | | toxin in the fish cannot be killed by cooking and there |
| feeling of weakness and hypertension may occur in | | | | is no offensive odor or appearance to the fish. So |
| addition to complaints of intense itching. | | | | the only way to truly prevent this intoxication is to |
| Some mild to severe neurological symptoms are | | | | avoid eating large reef fish or getting your fish |
| common with ciguatera; dizziness, impaired | | | | through a reputable supplier. |
| coordination, blurred vision and even coma may be | | | | This is just another in a long litany of food borne |
| seen in severe cases. | | | | diseases that are out there, not far from our own |
| An unusual characteristic that is common in ciguatera | | | | backyard. Use the knowledge you acquire and |
| is temperature reversal. This may be seen from 2 to | | | | common sense and you can be... toxin free. |