Posted on 05/18/2002 7:16:38 PM PDT by TomGuy
Scientists Find Toxin in Puffer Fish From Two Fla. Rivers; Poison Blamed for Sickening 13 People
The Associated Press
Published: May 18, 2002
TITUSVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Scientists investigating sickness suffered by 13 people who ate puffer fish have found a toxin in the species from two Florida rivers. Tests found saxitoxin poison was heaviest in puffers caught in the Indian River near Titusville, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. The toxin also was found in fish from the Banana River.
On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration warned against eating puffer fish harvested from the Titusville area, and the state has temporarily banned their consumption.
Thirteen people got sick between January and April after eating puffers. Scientists say they do not know why the toxin appears to be concentrated near Titusville.
"Our tests are still ongoing," said Jan Landsberg, a research scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The paralytic shellfish toxin is not normally found in puffer fish. The naturally occurring poison is caused by algae, bacteria or other single-celled organisms.
"We don't know what they're doing in the puffer fish. We think it could be from a toxic plankton," said researcher Michael Quilliam, of the Institute for Marine Biosciences with the National Research Council of Canada. "Shellfish ate the plankton, puffers ate the shellfish and people ate the puffers. That's our working hypothesis at this point."
Saxitoxin has been reported in puffer fish in the Far East and the Philippines, scientists said, but has not previously been reported in Florida.
In Florida, most such poisonings have been attributed to tetrodotoxin, the poison traditionally found in puffers. Seven cases of puffer fish poisoning were reported in the state between 1951 and 1974. Three were fatal.
AP-ES-05-18-02 2044EDT
They are ugly little fish that nobody keeps anyway.
The best sushi chefs who work with fugu have said it's hard to tell if the fish's liver was pierced, releasing the toxins. Therefore, fugu is an "eat at your own risk" kinda thing.
Did I get that right guys? Its been ten years since I lived there, and I wanted to be sure I wasn't mistaken.
Personally, I prefer the red tuna with a dash of soy and some green onions. (I'm making myself hungry, and there's no all-night sushi take-out in east central Illinois. Guess I'll hike down to the creek and see if the brook trout are ready yet.)
Lets see... we'll get Bridget Fonda to play the whistle-blowing lab assistant; Alec Baldwin can play the politically correct investigative reporter; Martin Sheen can play the "outraged" didn't-know-a-thing president; Sheen Jr. can play the ex-Navy Seal sent to hunt the critters down.... etc., etc., etc....
I've heard that it is a Japanese delicacy that has an associated macho trip. Supposedly, only the most skilled sushi chefs can filet it so that the poison does not enter the flesh of the fish (some gland or other has to be cut out). But, because this does not always work and there is no way to tell short of tasting it and living, Eating it is akin to Russian roulette and shows that you are a tough-guy.
How odd. I have always been told that they are poisonous, and will cause paralysis or death. This is not new information to most people, I suspect.
Imal
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.