White, D. J., University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, USA, darla.white@hawaii.edu
Parsons, M. L., Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, USA, mparsons@fgsu.edu
Moeller, P. D., Hollings Marine Lab NOAA-NOS, Charleston, USA, peter.moeller@noaa.gov
Bienfang, P. ., University of Hawaii at Manoa, Manoa, USA, bienfang@soest.hawaii.edu
DeFelice, S. V., University of Hawaii at Manoa, Manoa, USA, svd@hawaii.edu
Huncik, K. ., Hollings Marine Lab NOAA-NOS, Charleston, USA, kevin.huncik@noaa.gov

CIGUATOXIN CHARACTERIZATION IN HAWAIIAN ARCHIPELAGO FISHES: TOXICITY IDENTIFIED BY N2A BIOASSAY

Ciguatera is the most common form of seafood poisoning worldwide. One difficulty in preventing ciguatera is lack of adequate screening methods, due in part to the presence of multiple ciguatoxin (CTX) congeners in fish tissue. CTX congeners are commonly understood to differ by region. As the Hawaiian Archipelago is the most remote island chain in the world, it is reasonable to expect that CTX in Hawai‘i’s fishes may be unique as well. The objectives of this project were: 1) identify ciguatoxic fishes using a sodium-channel specific neuroblastoma (N2a) bioassay; 2) determine how ciguatoxicity varies among fish species throughout the archipelago; and 3) determine molecular masses of putative ciguatoxin congeners using HPLC /MS. Fishes were opportunistically collected from 14 islands, atolls, and reefs within the archipelago. Muscle tissues were extracted in dichloromethane and analyzed for toxicity using the bioassay. Results for 294 samples indicate 16% of fish exhibited toxicity. Chi square results indicated no significant differences in spatial distributions, or between herbivorous and carnivorous fishes. HPLC/MS analysis of extracts resulted in identification of several candidate peaks that may represent CTX congeners.

Oral presentation

Presentation is given by student: Yes
Session #:120
Date: 03-03-2008
Time: 13:45