CIGUATERA FISH POISONING

Ciguatera fish poisoning is the most common form of toxin-related food poisoning in the United States. Originating from dinoflagellates livi ng on coral reefs, it is spread up the food chain and affects humans w ho ingest the ciguatoxic fish. Ciguatera is primarily endemic in tropi cal regions of the world. It is a self-limiting disease that presents with characteristic gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiovascular symptoms, Recent advances in testing procedures and symptom recogniti on has improved ciguatoxin identification and clinical management. How ever, there is still a need for better diagnostic, preventive, and rep orting protocols to more accurately study and understand this diverse and temporarily debilitating clinical syndrome.