OCCURRENCE OF PARALYTIC SHELLFISH POISONS IN THAI FRESH-WATER PUFFERS

Screening tests were carried out on the toxicity of freshwater puffers Tetraodon leiurus complex and Tetraoaon suvatii collected from Udonth ani province, north-eastern Thailand. Toxicity was highest in the live r and varied according to the location and season of fish catch. Fish which were reared in tap water for 3 months reduced the toxicity subst antially. Partial purification was achieved by an ultrafiltration tech nique. Toxin components were consequently identified by high-performan ce liquid chromatography. It was found that toxins separated from the eggs, liver, skin and muscle of these puffers were composed of saxitox in, neosaxitoxin and decarbamoylsaxitoxin. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science L td.