Acute liver damage with characteristic apoptotic hepatocytes by ingestion of Aplysia kurodai, a sea hare

A case of acute liver damage by ingestion of Aplysia kurodai, a sea hare is reported. A 40-year-old man, complaining of vomiting and pyrexia after eat ing a sea hare, was admitted. Laboratory data showed mild liver damage with sustained elevations of aminotransferases, Microscopic findings in the liv er biopsy specimen revealed characteristic apoptotic hepatocytes accompanie d by mitotic hepatocytes. It is suggested that bioactive substances in the sea hare might induce such apoptosis of hepatocytes in the liver.