Ciguatoxins

Dear Colleagues,

Ciguatoxins (CTXs), which are responsible for Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP), are liposoluble toxins produced by microalgae of the genera Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa. With an estimated number of 50,000 cases a year worldwide, some fatal, CFP is the most common non-bacterial illness associated with seafood. Until recently, CFP intoxications were considered to be endemic to (sub)tropical regions of the Pacific and Indian Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, but they are nowadays responsible for intoxications in other places around the world. In particular, in Europe, intoxications occur due to both consumption of imported ciguatoxin-contaminated seafood from endemic areas, and consumption of ciguatoxin-contaminated seafood from certain areas of Macaronesia, such as Azores, the Madeira Islands (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain).

The presence of CTXs in fish can be detected via screening methods, such as mouse bioassays, in vitro cell tests, and receptor binding assays, and confirmed using mass-spectrometry-based analyses. However, the lack of commercially available reference materials clearly indicates a challenge for marine toxins research. The increased presence of CTXs, combined with their occurrence in new latitudes and the contribution of climate change, is raising concerns globally. In this context, further investigations regarding CTX presence and origin in aquatic environments, the development of more sophisticated analysis methods, further data on human intoxication incidents, the toxicological potency of CTX analogues, and potential mitigation/regulatory management measures are considered to be extremely important.

This Special Issue aims to focus on new information and scientific evidence mainly with regard to: (i) CTX occurrence in aquatic environments, with an emphasis on edible aquatic organisms; (ii) analysis methods for the determination of CTXs; (iii) advances regarding CTX-producing organisms; (iv) environmental factors involved in the presence of CTXs; and (v) assessment of public health risks related to the presence of CTXs, as well as risk management and mitigation strategies. Studies addressing any other questions of relevance or reviews related to CTXs are also considered to be of interest and welcome for submission.

Dr. Panagiota Katikou
Dr. Marie-Yasmine Dechraoui Bottein
Guest Editors

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