How to translate text using browser tools
1 June 2016 A PUFFERFISH (TETRADON NIGROVIRIDIS) AVAILABLE IN THE COMMON PET TRADE HARBORS LETHAL CONCENTRATIONS OF TETRODOTOXIN: A CASE STUDY OF POISONING IN A CUVIER'S DWARF CAIMAN (PALEOSUCHUS PALPEBROSUS)
Becky L. Williams, Lauren V. Powers, Michael M. Garner
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Many pufferfish possess tetrodotoxin (TTX). Unaware of this fact, the owner of a 3-mo-old pet Cuvier's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) fed the caiman a green spotted pufferfish (Tetraodon nigroviridis), acquired from a local discount department store. The caiman was nonresponsive within an hour of consumption of the fish. The caiman was presented for veterinary evaluation but died despite intensive medical care. High-performance liquid chromatography and a competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay were used to determine whether the pufferfish was tetrodotoxic and whether the deceased caiman had TTX in its system. Skin and liver of the pufferfish harbored high concentrations of TTX, and the caiman had TTX in the blood, liver, and kidney. The clinical signs and presence of TTX in the caiman suggest that the caiman succumbed to tetrodotoxicosis. The implication is that lethally poisonous species are available commercially and pose a danger to other pets and possibly small children.

Copyright 2016 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Becky L. Williams, Lauren V. Powers, and Michael M. Garner "A PUFFERFISH (TETRADON NIGROVIRIDIS) AVAILABLE IN THE COMMON PET TRADE HARBORS LETHAL CONCENTRATIONS OF TETRODOTOXIN: A CASE STUDY OF POISONING IN A CUVIER'S DWARF CAIMAN (PALEOSUCHUS PALPEBROSUS)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 47(2), 676-680, (1 June 2016). https://doi.org/10.1638/2015-0077.1
Received: 31 March 2015; Published: 1 June 2016
KEYWORDS
Cuvier's dwarf caiman
green spotted pufferfish
Paleosuchus palpebrosus
Tetraodon nigroviridis
tetrodotoxin
toxicosis
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top