[Saxitoxins and tetrodotokxins as a new biological weapon]

Abstract

Saxitoxins (STX) and tetrodotoxins (TTX) are a group of chemical compounds produced by certain species of marine algae and fish. Lethal dose for a human is about 0.5-2.0 mg when the toxin enters the body via food, and 0.05 mg of poisoning at the time of injection. In the case of aerosol the lethal dose for human being is 5 mg/min/m(3). STX and TTX poisoning cause mostly symptoms from the nervous system in the form of: paresthesia around the lips, tongue, gums, distal segments of the limbs, headache, dysphonia, astigmatism, floating feeling, muscle weakness, paralysis of cranial and peripheral nerves. There is no specific antidote for STX and TTX. It is recommended supportive treatment.

Keywords: intoxication; management; saxitoxin; symptoms; tetrodotoxin.