Evaluation of the Hawaiian reef fishes with the solid phase immunobead assay

✍ Scribed by Y. Hokama; A. Y. Asahina; E. S. Shang; T. W. P. Hong; J. L. R. Shirai

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 416 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0887-8013
• DOI: 10.1002/jcla.1860070106

✦ Synopsis

This study presents data on the evaluation of a laboratory ciguatera kit based on the solid phase immunobead assay (SPIA) for the detection of ciguatoxin in Hawaiian reef fish. The SPlA was performed on fish catches by volunteer fishermen throughout the State of Hawaii. A total of 1,067 fish of various species were tested for ciguatoxin (CTX) using the SPlA kit. Of the total 1,067 fish tested, 510 were from Oahu, 402 from Hawaii, and 75 from Maui. The number of fish from Molokai, Kauai, and Lanai were 23, 20, and 7 respectively. Twenty percent of the total fish tested were positive, 41 Yo borderline, and 39% negative for ciguatoxin. The highest percentage of SPIA-positive fish were from Hawaii (27%) followed by Oahu (19%) and Kauai (15%). These results correlate with the reported incidents from the Department of Health (DOH) of actual ciguatera poisoning in the State of Hawaii. Fish in all three categories of the SPlA test values were eaten.

No false negatives were noted with individuals eating SPlA negative fish. Of the 232 SPlA borderline values eaten, 3 species of fish caused ciguatera poisoning. These fish included 2 papio, 1 mullet, and 1 po'ou. Of the 17 SPlA positive fish eaten, 5 caused ciguatera poisoning: 2 papio, a kole, an uhu, and a weke. The SPlA ciguatera test did protect the public when only SPIA-negative fish were eaten. The borderline and positive SPlA fish were generally unsafe, especially the positive fish. The data indicated that the probability of getting ciguatera with a SPlA positive fish was 1 out of 3. The Caranx sp. (papio, ulua) appeared to be one of the major culprits in ciguatera poisoning in Hawaii. This was compatible with the known yearly reports from the DOH. 8 ' 1993 Wi~ey-Liss, Inc.