Ciguatera fish poisoning in Miami

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Abstract
Ciguatoxic fish constitute a continuing foodborn disease problem in Miami. Information from 129 cases of ciguatera fish poisoning reported to the Dade County (Miami) Department of Public Health during 1974-1976 was used for epidemiologic study of the syndrome. The case definition required that both gastrointestinal and paresthetic neurological symptoms be experienced within 36 h after eating fish. Grouper and snapper were the fish most frequently implicated. Neither methods of storage nor means of preparation seemed to affect fish toxicity. A predominantly late spring and summer seasonality was noted. The true annual incidence of this syndrome in Miami may be 10 times the number reported to the health department, suggesting an average annual incidence of at least 5 cases/10,000 resident population. Recent advances in ciguatoxin research may lead to much needed assays for toxin detection.

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