Invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans): a potential human health threat for ciguatera fish poisoning in tropical waters

Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) have rapidly expanded in the Western Atlantic over the past decade and have had a significant negative impact on reef fish biodiversity, habitat, and community structure, with lionfish out-competing native predators for resources. In an effort to red...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Marine drugs Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 88 - 97
Main Authors:	Robertson, Alison, Garcia, Ana C, Quintana, Harold A Flores, Smith, Tyler B, Castillo, 2nd, Bernard F, Reale-Munroe, Kynoch, Gulli, Joseph A, Olsen, David A, Hooe-Rollman, Jennifer I, Jester, Edward L E, Klimek, Brian J, Plakas, Steven M
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Switzerland MDPI AG 27-12-2013 MDPI
Subjects:	Animals Atlantic Ocean Biodiversity Caribbean Caribbean ciguatoxins Caribbean Region Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ciguatera fish poisoning Ciguatera Poisoning - epidemiology Ciguatoxins - chemistry Ecosystem Fishes - physiology Food Safety Humans Indicators and Reagents lionfish Marine Marine Biology Marine Toxins - toxicity mass spectrometry Meat - analysis Meat - toxicity Neuroblastoma - pathology Predatory Behavior Pterois volitans Seafood - adverse effects Sodium Channel Blockers - toxicity Tandem Mass Spectrometry Toxicity Tests United States Virgin Islands United States Virgin Islands Atlantic Ocean Caribbean Region I, Indo-Pacific ASW, Caribbean Sea, Lesser Antilles, US Virgin Is AW, Atlantic
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Summary:	Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) have rapidly expanded in the Western Atlantic over the past decade and have had a significant negative impact on reef fish biodiversity, habitat, and community structure, with lionfish out-competing native predators for resources. In an effort to reduce this population explosion, lionfish have been promoted for human consumption in the greater Caribbean region. This study examined whether the geographical expansion of the lionfish into a known ciguatera-endemic region can pose a human health threat for ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP). More than 180 lionfish were collected from waters surrounding the US Virgin Islands throughout 2010 and 2011. Ciguatoxin testing included an in vitro neuroblastoma cytotoxicity assay for composite toxicity assessment of sodium-channel toxins combined with confirmatory liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. A 12% prevalence rate of ciguatoxic lionfish exceeding the FDA guidance level of 0.1 µg/kg C-CTX-1 equivalents was identified in fish from the U.S. Virgin Islands, highlighting a potential consumption risk in this region. This study presents the first evidence that the invasive lionfish, pose a direct human health risk for CFP and highlights the need for awareness and research on this food safety hazard in known endemic areas.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1660-3397 1660-3397
DOI:	10.3390/md12010088