Algal ciguatoxin identified as source of ciguatera poisoning in the Caribbean

• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138659
• Publication Date: 2023-04-10T16:01:43Z
• Authors: Elizabeth M. Mudge; Christopher O. Miles; Lada Ivanova; Silvio Uhlig; Keiana S. James; Deana L. Erdner; Christiane K. Fæste; Pearse McCarron; Alison Robertson
• Keywords: Ciguatoxin; Ciguatera

Ciguatera poisoning (CP) is a severe seafood-borne disease, caused by the consumption of reef fish contaminated with Caribbean ciguatoxins (C-CTXs) in and tropical Atlantic. However, C-CTXs have not been identified from their presumed algal source, so relationship to CTXs causing illness remains unknown. This has hindered development detection methods, diagnostics, monitoring programs, limited fundamental knowledge on environmental factors that regulate C-CTX production. In this study, vitro chemical techniques were applied unambiguously identify novel analogue, C-CTX5, Gambierdiscus silvae caribaeus strains Caribbean. Metabolism liver microsomes converted C-CTX5 into C-CTX1/2, dominant CTX ciguatoxic Furthermore, G. was confirmed voltage-gated sodium-channel-specific activity. finding crucial for risk assessment, understanding fate food webs, prerequisite effective analytical methods programs. The identification an precursor produced two species major breakthrough ciguatera research will foster advances important seafood safety issue.