Tetrodotoxin and analogues in two local pufferfish species from Inhaca Island – South of Mozambique: First report in the Mozambican coast

• Published in: Toxicon (Oxford) Vol. 216; pp. 88 - 91
• Main Authors: Tamele, Isidro José, Timba, Ilário, Costa, Pedro Reis, Vasconcelos, Vitor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2022
• Subjects: Human seafood poisoning; Indian Ocean; Marine toxins monitoring; Mozambican coast; Pufferfish; Tetrodotoxins; Human seafood poisoning; Tetrodotoxins; Mozambican coast; Marine toxins monitoring; Indian Ocean; Pufferfish
• ISSN: 0041-0101; 1879-3150
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.06.011

Tetrodotoxins (TTXs) were investigated in two local pufferfish species, Diodon hystrix and Arothron hispidus, from Mozambican coast. TTX and analogues 4-epiTTX, 4,9-anhydroTTX, 11-deoxyTTX, and 11-norTTX-6-(R/S)-ol were found in both species and high level of TTX was found in A. hispidus (9522.0 μg TTX kg−1) than in D. hystrix (350.9 μg TTX kg−1). The distribution of TTX and their analogues in A. hispidus was intestine > liver > skin ≫ muscle > gonads. This is the first report of TTXs in Mozambican coast. [Display omitted] •First report of Tetrodotoxins occurrence in the local pufferfish species from Mozambique.•Pufferfishes presented Tetrodotoxins level above recommended limit in Europe and Japan.•Need of setting-up a program for Tetrodotoxins surveillance in seafood from Mozambique.