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. 2022 Feb 8;14(2):123.
doi: 10.3390/toxins14020123.

Concentrations of Tetrodotoxin (TTX) and Its Analogue 4,9-Anhydro TTX in Different Tissues of the Silver-Cheeked Pufferfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus, Gmelin, 1789) Caught in the South-Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon

Abed El Rahman Hassoun  1 , Ivana Ujević  2 , Sharif Jemaa  1 , Romana Roje-Busatto  2 , Céline Mahfouz  1 , Milad Fakhri  1 , Nikša Nazlić  2
Affiliations

Concentrations of Tetrodotoxin (TTX) and Its Analogue 4,9-Anhydro TTX in Different Tissues of the Silver-Cheeked Pufferfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus, Gmelin, 1789) Caught in the South-Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon

Abed El Rahman Hassoun et al. Toxins (Basel). .

Abstract

Pufferfishes are among the best-known marine organisms that accumulate marine biotoxins such as Tetrodotoxin (TTX). In the Mediterranean Sea, the silver-cheeked toadfish Lagocephalus sceleratus is the most reported TTX-bearer, causing many fatal and non-fatal cases. In Lebanon, no previous studies have measured TTX levels although the possibility of TTX-poisoning is high since L. sceleratus is caught in different sizes and can be mistaken with other small fishes. Hence, this study reports TTX and its analogue 4,9-anhydro TTX in L. sceleratus collected from Lebanese waters in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The results show that TTX concentrations in fish tissues varied between 0.10 and 252.97 µg/g, while those of 4,9-anhydro TTX oscillated between 0.01 and 43.01 µg/g. Internal organs of L. sceleratus were the most toxic parts of its body, with the highest TTX levels found in gonads (mainly ovaries) and liver, followed by the muscles and skin with concentrations always exceeding the safety level. Toxicity fluctuations of L. sceleratus, its expansion, ecological and economic effects were also elucidated. Based on the present findings, it has been confirmed that L. sceleratus constitutes a health, ecological and economic risks, and therefore its trade in seafood markets should be banned to avoid any potential intoxication.

Keywords: Lebanon; Mediterranean Sea; invasive species; marine toxins; pufferfish; seafood security.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
TTX concentrations (μg/g) in organs (gonads, liver, muscle and skin) of each L. sceleratus specimen (bars represent minimum and maximum of TTX concentrations, n = 5).
Figure 2
Figure 2
4,9-anhydro TTX concentrations (μg/g) in organs (gonads, liver, muscle and skin) of each L. sceleratus specimen (bars represent minimum and maximum of 4,9-anhydro TTX concentrations, n = 5).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Logarithmic presentation of combined TTX and 4,9-anhydro TTX concentrations (μg/g) in each organ of L. sceleratus specimens with visualization of the Lowest Lethal Dose (LDL0), the Minimum Acute Dose (MAD), and the Safety level (according to [6]).
Figure 4
Figure 4
(A) Sample collection area; (B) a photo of Lagocephalus sceleratus© Sharif Jemaa, CNRS-L.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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