Abstract
Ciguatera is a food intoxication caused by the consumption of primarily coral fish; these species exist in large numbers in the seas that surround the Colombian territory. The underreported diagnosis of this clinical entity has been widely highlighted due to multiple factors, such as, among others, ignorance by the primary care practitioner consulted for this condition as well as clinical similarity to secondary gastroenteric symptoms and common food poisonings of bacterial, parasitic or viral etiology. Eventually, it was found that people affected by ciguatoxins had trips to coastal areas hours before the onset of symptoms. Thanks to multiple studies over the years, it has been possible to identify the relation between toxigenic dinoflagellates and seagrasses, as well as its incorporation into the food chain, starting by fish primarily inhabiting reef ecosystems and culminating in the intake of these by humans. Identifying the epidemiological link, its cardinal symptoms and affected systems, such as gastrointestinal, the peripheral nervous system and, fortunately with a low frequency, the cardiovascular system, leads to a purely clinical diagnostic impression without necessitating further complementary studies; in addition, what would also help fight ciguatera poisoning is performing an adequate treatment of the symptoms right from the start, without underestimating or overlooking any associated complications.
Highlights
Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is an intoxication due to eating contaminated fish with ciguatoxins.Ciguatoxins are lipid-soluble polyether compounds consisting of 13 to 14 heterocyclic rings whose synthesis is associated with various species of dinoflagellates [1]
This review aims to make a survey of the ciguatera register in the Colombian Caribbean and the development of cases recorded when it was possible to find this description
Regarding the richness and abundance of dinoflagellates associated with the production of ciguatoxins in Colombia, a previous study carried out in 2015, to determine the composition and abundance of dinoflagellates associated with seagrasses, collected 18 samples on Isla de Barú, and found ten diatom genera and three dinoflagellate genera, namely, Prorocentrum, Ostreopsis and Gambierdiscus, which include toxigenic species related to ciguatera and diarrheic shellfish poisoning (Figure 1)
Summary
Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is an intoxication due to eating contaminated fish with ciguatoxins. Regarding the first reported case of CFP in Colombia, caused by ingesting the meat of a Seriola zonata (Mitchill, 1815), highlights the probability of existence of dinoflagellates that synthesize ciguatoxins in the vicinity of the Departments of Bolívar and Sucre in the Colombian Caribbean, the species of dinoflagellate that caused the intoxication was not identified [8,9]. There is little information on CFP in Colombia and the registration of its dynamics is difficult, given that Colombia is not required to register for the National Public Health Surveillance System—SIVIGILA. For this reason, this review aims to make a survey of the ciguatera register in the Colombian Caribbean and the development of cases recorded when it was possible to find this description
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
