BIOGENIC-AMINES IN THE FLESH OF SAILFISH (ISTIOPHORUS-PLATYPFERUS) RESPONSIBLE FOR SCOMBROID POISONING

Sailfish fillets were involved in a 1994 food poisoning outbreak in we stern Taiwan. Samples were collected from the victims' residues and fr om retail and wholesale suppliers. They were analyzed for amines by a gradient elution system of HPLC. Tryptamine, histamine, spermine, trim ethylamine, spermidine, and cadaverine were found; other amines were n ot detectable. The concentration of histamine was higher than 100 mg/1 00g which was assumed as the toxic level. The allergy-like symptoms of the victims along with the high content of histamine in the sailfish they had eaten were reasonable evidence that the food poisoning was di rectly associated with histamine intoxication.