Tetrodotoxin and analogues in two local pufferfish species from Inhaca Island – South of Mozambique: First report in the Mozambican coast

Abstract

Tetrodotoxins (TTXs) were investigated in two local pufferfish species, Diodon hystrix and Arothron hispidus, from Mozambican coast. TTX and analogues 4-epiTTX, 4,9-anhydroTTX, 11-deoxyTTX, and 11-norTTX-6-(R/S)-ol were found in both species and high level of TTX was found in A. hispidus (9522.0 μg TTX kg−1) than in D. hystrix (350.9 μg TTX kg−1). The distribution of TTX and their analogues in A. hispidus was intestine > liver > skin ≫ muscle > gonads. This is the first report of TTXs in Mozambican coast.