Analysis of toxin profiles in three different fish species causing ciguatera fish poisoning in Guadeloupe, French West Indies

Abstract

A grey snapper (Lutjanus griseus), a grouper (Serranidae) and a black jack (Caranx lugubris) were implicated in three different ciguatera poisonings in Guadeloupe, French West Indies. A mouse bioassay indicated toxicity for each specimens: 0.5-1, > or = 1 and > 1 MUg g(-1), respectively. After purification by gel filtration chromatography, the samples were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The toxin profiles differ from one fish to another. C-CTX-1 was detected at 0.24, 0.90 and 13.8 ng g(-1) flesh in the snapper, grouper and jack, respectively. It contributed only to part of the whole toxicity determined by the mouse bioassay. Other toxins identified were C-CTX-2 (a C-CTX-1 epimer), three additional isomers of C-CTX-1 or-2, and five ciguatoxin congeners (C-CTX-1127, C-CTX-1143 and its isomer C-CTX-1143a, and C-CTX-1157 and its isomer C-CTX-1157b). Putative hydroxy-polyether-like compounds were also detected in the flesh of the grouper with [M+ + H]+ ions at m/z 851.51, 857.50, 875.51, 875.49 and 895.54 Da. Some of these compounds have the same mass range as some known dinoflagellate toxins. In conclusion, this study confirms the usefulness of LC-MS analysis to determine the ciguatoxins levels and the toxin profile in fish flesh hazardous to humans.

Update on Methodologies Available for Ciguatoxin Determination: Perspectives to Confront the Onset of Ciguatera Fish Poisoning in Europe

“…I-CTXs were first reported by Hamilton et al [96], isolated from red bass ( Lutjanus bohar ) and red emperor ( Lutjanus sebae ) fishes, and characterized by HPLC-MS in a similar way to previously reported for C-CTXs [97,98,147], with the exception of the chromatographic conditions. The conditions were modified to isocratic elution on a Zorbax 300SB (2.1 × 150 mm, 3.5 μm, Agilent) with acetonitrile:water:isopropanol (80:19:1) modified with 5 μM ammonium acetate or 0.1% formic acid.…”

“…The analysis of toxic fractions led to determination of five new CTX congeners at m/z for [M + H] + : 1,159.6, 1,143.6, 1,157.6, 1,127.6; plus several isomers of them and of the C-CTX-1, not previously reported. The same conditions allowed determination of some of these congeners in other fish species such as grey snapper ( Lutjanus griseus ), grouper ( Serranidae ) and a black jack ( Caranx lugubris ) [98], as well as in barracuda ( Sphyraena barracuda ), where ciguatoxins and also other hydroxyl-polyether compounds likely related to brevetoxins were identified [147]. …”

“…Two CTXs from the Carribean Sea (C-CTXs) were first isolated by Vernoux and Lewis [94], and further identified structurally in 1998 [94,102] (Table 1 and Figure 1). Additional congeners were later identified by Pottier et al [97,98]. More recently, four Indian Ocean CTXs (I-CTXs) were isolated [96], but their structural determination remains to be established.…”

Ciguatera Fish Poisoning in La Habana, Cuba: A Study of Local Social–Ecological Resilience

“…This is a risk many fishers are willing to take. (It should be noted that, unlike the Pacific, herbivorous fish have never been proven to be ciguatoxic in the Caribbean [Pottier et al, 2002]. )…”

Proteomic analysis of hepatic tissue of ciguatoxin (CTX) contaminated coral reef fish Cephalopholis argus and moray eel Gymnothorax undulatus

“…Among these, CFP is most often associated with the ingestion of groupers, and moray eels (Pottier et al, 2002;Juranovic and Park, 1991). Since toxicity depends upon the bioaccumulation of CTX present in food sources to the fish (Llewellyn, 2009), the highest trophic-level consumers within the food web, such as groupers and moray eels, are therefore expected to accumulate the highest levels of CTX .…”