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Pagan · 13-03-2011, 05:20

Hi Knowledgable ones,

In a previous thread I asked about recommendations for a book and had some very useful replies, some of which mentioned ciguetera, and one mentioned a kit or kits for detecting this toxin in raw fish.

Ok what I would like now is as much useful information about ciguetera as
I can get on : -

1/. What are the signs and symptoms of ciguetera.
2/. Information regarding the available detection kits.

many thanks

Pagan Nev

**GordMay** · 13-03-2011, 05:29

Excerpted from ➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...oning-964.html

With the exception of testing fresh uncooked fish, with a test kit called Cigua Check, there is no way to determine if a fish carries the toxin.
I have no information as to it’s efficacy.
Cigua-Check ➥ Cigua-Check Fish Poison Test Kit

See also:
➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...-fish-831.html
➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...bvi-45828.html

**atoll** · 13-03-2011, 05:34

met a polynesian guy in one of the atolls,asked him what he did about cigueterra?

he replied that he fed it to the mother in law or his children first........

PamlicoTraveler · 13-03-2011, 05:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by atoll

met a polynesian guy in one of the atolls,asked him what he did about cigueterra?

he replied that he fed it to the mother in law or his children first........

That's the best testing method I can think of. Maybe the dog too, and if the dog dies, just avoid that fish. Simple as that.

**capngeo** · 13-03-2011, 05:58

In the Bahamas I saw a lot of filets just lying about in the sun. I asked and was told to wait on flies! If they land, the fish is OK, if not it has cig. They even ate big 'cuda's!

Pagan · 13-03-2011, 06:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by GordMay

Excerpted from ➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...oning-964.html

With the exception of testing fresh uncooked fish, with a test kit called Cigua Check, there is no way to determine if a fish carries the toxin.
I have no information as to it’s efficacy.
Cigua-Check ➥ Cigua-Check Fish Poison Test Kit

See also:
➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...-fish-831.html
➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...bvi-45828.html

Hi Gord,

I read your extensive and extremely informative posting which you made, I believe in 2004, an excellent read. have been on the Cigua site and fully recommend it.

Many thanks from many others i am sure.

Pagan Nev

**atoll** · 13-03-2011, 06:27

prevention being better than cure,in suspect areas we only ate pelegic fish ie tuna,dorado,marlin etc avoided wahoo and barracuda,unless far off shore.

crayfish,coconut crabs ,shell fish,squid,octopus i belive are safe in suspect areas.

another theory is to only eat small fish>15cm and only 6 months of the year.

i have friends who ate a kingfish caught off the coast of antigua,and were seriously ill for more than a year.......best to be safer than sorry,best to avoid snapper,grouper,jack etc high in risk areas,no matter how good they look.............

Dulcesuenos · 13-03-2011, 06:30

Some of the best advice I have heard, is if it is a species that preys on primarily reef fish, stay away from eating very large ones. That being said we ate fillets from a 62lb cubea snapper and had no problems. The more tropical and warmer the waters, the higher the chance. Lots of people eat cuda in the miami and bahamas areas and have little issues. Go further south and it may not be the case. I know cases of it are rare in Florida. On some of the spear fishing forums I visit I have seen horror stories about people who have been poisoned.

**GordMay** · 13-03-2011, 06:54

Excerpted from ➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ays-11282.html

The Kindley Air Force Base Fishing Club held a large tournament offshore Bermuda and afterwards all met at one of the officer's house for a fish cookout. Late that night the last guest left and the lady of the house told her husband that she could not face all these fishy dishes in the morning so they set about cleaning up and putting dishes thru several fillings of the dishwasher. Early in the process she found a plate of uneaten barracuda and told her husband she'd put it out for the cat. She called the cat and left it eating the barracuda.

When, much later, she went out to get the last plate, she found the dead cat next to the plate and she panicked. She called Colonel Frese, Kindley's head of the KAFB Hospital, who had been at the banquet, told him about the cat and asked what to do? Colonel Frese told her to organize a telephone network and get everyone who had been at the party to the hospital to have their stomachs pumped!

In the very wee hours of the morning, as she and her husband came back from the hospital, the neighbor's wife came over and told her "Honey, I did not want to spoil your party last night, but at 2AM when I drove my husband to the Base to fly a WB-50, I ran over your cat. Rather than spoil your evening I laid her at the door and figured to tell you this morning."

The fish wife grabbed her by the throat and told her that, on the pain of sudden death, mention this to no one on the base. She said "Because of your kindness we pumped the stomachs of 40 couples and there are 80 unhappy officers and their wives who would get violent if they knew."

So watch the cat eat the fish and keep track of it afterward so it doesn't get hit by a car!

barnakiel · 13-03-2011, 12:40

Your body is a good detection kit. Do not ask me how I know.

b.

smurphny · 13-03-2011, 12:54

The test kit Co (above link) is not taking any orders.

delmarrey · 13-03-2011, 16:27

Here is a link that is very informing; Ciguatera and the Fish that cause Ciguatera Poisoning

clifford sloan · 13-03-2011, 17:33

Most people from Trinidad keep a cat for test purposes. A dog will eat infected fish and die. A cat will eat infected fish and throw it up without dieing. The trick is to keep the cat contained until it has had time for nature to take its course. The drawing flies thing is a myth. To my knowledge every other so called "method" of detection is not valid.