ciguatera

ciguatera /ci·gua·te·ra/ (se?gwah-ta´rah) a form of ichthyosarcotoxism, marked by gastrointestinal and neurologic symptoms due to ingestion of tropical or subtropical marine fish that have ciguatoxin in their tissues.

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ci·gua·ter·a (sgw-tr)

n.

Poisoning caused by ingesting fish contaminated with ciguatoxin, characterized by gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, tingling, itchiness, and reversal of temperature perception.

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ciguatera

poisoning by consumption of the flesh or viscera of sporadically toxic tropical predatory fish of a wide range of species. The causative heat-stable toxins (ciguatoxin, maitotoxin and others) originate in the dinoflagellate (Gambierdiscus toxicus) and possibly others or from associated bacterial microflora. The toxins are subject to bioaccumulation in fish which eat the dinoflagellates, and subsequently in the predators. Growth of the dinoflagellates is promoted by the destruction of their coral reef habitat. Poisoning characterized by vomiting, diarrhea and paresis in cats, dogs, humans. See also lyngbya.