How to tell if fish is subjected to Ciguatera?

Is there any way to tell if fish is infected/subjected to ciguatera.

I understand that if you ingest fish that is infected with ciguatera you run the risk of becoming violently ill, and that subsequent ingestions will make you even more ill. Therefore is there any way to tell if a fish has ciguatera?

I ask as I know not to eat certain fishes that I have caught in the tropics, but still do not know enough about the subject.

fish

Best Answer

Not without a lab to test the fish. Most outbreaks go unreported, or are spread too far apart. If it's local they would quit selling the fish for a week or two at a local market. That does not stop them from being shipped to a different location in 3rd world countries, or mixed in the fishing boats to be shipped wherever.

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How to tell if fish is subjected to Ciguatera? - Gray and White Fish on Gray Sand

How to tell if fish is subjected to Ciguatera? - White Seal in Water

How to tell if fish is subjected to Ciguatera? - Giant Oceanic Manta Ray on Body of Water

Quick Answer about "How to tell if fish is subjected to Ciguatera?"

Tingling.

Tooth pain or feeling as if teeth are loose.

Itching.

Metallic taste in the mouth.

Blurred vision.

Increased sensitivity to hot and cold.

Can you detect ciguatera?

Ciguatera toxins are odorless, tasteless, and generally undetectable by any simple chemical test; therefore, bioassays have traditionally been used to monitor suspect fish.

How do you get rid of ciguatera from fish?

There is no specific cure for ciguatera fish poisoning, but symptoms can be treated until the illness resolves on its own. Most poisoning resolves in a few days or weeks, but in severe cases the neurologic symptoms may last for weeks or months.

Can ciguatera toxin be destroyed by cooking?

The toxin is odorless and tasteless, and cooking does not destroy the toxin. Eating ciguatera-contaminated tropical or subtropical fish is the main way that humans are exposed to the toxin.

What type of fish is associated with ciguatera poisoning?

Any reef fish can cause ciguatera poisoning, but species such as barracuda, grouper, red snapper, moray eel, amberjack, parrotfish, hogfish, sturgeonfish, kingfish, coral trout, and sea bass are the most commonly affected. Ciguatoxins are concentrated in the fish liver, intestines, heads, and roe.

Ciguatera Fish Poisoning, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

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