Ciguatoxin – an Emerging Biological Hazard among Reef Fishes of India

Abstract

Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) is an emerging food
safety hazard which has been reported in southern
peninsular India in recent times. Ciguateric fishes
mostly associated with coral reef ecosystem are
implicated in food poisoning outbreaks. USFDA
guidance for fish and fishery products classifies CFP
as “reasonably likely to occur†in fishes harvested
from coral reef regions. Ciguatera Fish Poisoning
has been reported from tropical or subtropical areas
around the world between latitudes 35°N and 35°S,
particularly in the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian
Ocean and in the Flower Garden Banks area in the
northern Gulf of Mexico. Action levels for CFP
limits are now listed as 0.01 ppb for Pacific and
0.1 ppb for Caribbean ciguatoxin. CFP is considered
as a natural toxin and USFDA has listed out 12
group of fishes under ciguatera hazard category.
With recent EU import rejections of some of the
seafood consignments originated from India, CFP
has emerged as an important food safety concern.
Although, no fatality has been reported so far,
morbidity symptoms observed from cases of hospitalization
is a definite concern to the export trade.
This review deliberates on the significance of CFP,
its distribution and hazard control measures.