Taxonomy and Toxicological Evaluation of Tetraodontiformes from Kasimedu, Chennai, India
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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2015) 4(3): 361-371 ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 4 Number 3 (2015) pp. 361-371 http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article Taxonomy and Toxicological Evaluation of Tetraodontiformes from Kasimedu, Chennai, India M.Mohan raj1* and J.SeshSerebiah1 Department of Marine Studies and Coastal Resource Management (Autonomous), Tambaram, Chennai-59, India *Corresponding author A B S T R A C T The present study discusses the Taxonomy and Toxicological Evaluation of Tetraodontiformes from coastal waters of Kasimedu, Chennai, India. The buffer K e y w o r d s fish has a pelagic, or open-ocean, life stage. Spawning occurs after males slowly push females to the water surface. The eggs are spherical and buoyant, floating in Tetraodontiformes, the water. Hatching occurs roughly after four days. Live specimens of Medicinal use, Lagocephalus scleratus were procured from Kasimedu landing center, Chennai. Kasimedu, Crude mucus toxin extraction was performed from buffer fish and toxicity Survey, test were done. The level of monocytes, neutrophils, Haemoglobin content, were Treatment. not found in decreasing trend with increment of crude toxin in treated rat groups. But there is no change in esonophiles, basophiles.The level of blood glucose, urea, creatinine, PCV were found decreased in treated rat groups when compared with the control. The MCV had positive correlation with crude toxin administration. Introduction Tetraodontiforms is an order of primarily the shells of crustaceans and mollusks, and marine and estuarine fish. The order red worms, their natural prey. Puffer Fish includes many familiar species which are are the second most poisonous vertebrate in variously called puffers, balloonfish, the world, the first being a Golden Poison blowfish, bubblefish, globefish, swellfish, Frog. The skin and certain internal organs of toadfish, and toadies. They are many Tetraodontidae are highly toxic to morphologically similar to the closely humans, but nevertheless the meat of some related porcupine fish, which have large species is considered a delicacy in both conspicuous spines (unlike the small, almost Japan (as fugu) and Korea (as bok-uh). If sandpaper-like spines of Tetraodontidae). one is caught while fishing, it is The scientific name, Tetraodontidae, refers recommended that thick gloves are worn to to the four large teeth, fused into an upper avoid poisoning and getting bitten when and lower plate, which are used for crushing removing the hook. 361 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2015) 4(3): 361-371 Members of the Tetraodontidae family are Puffers are able to move their eyes found near shore in temperate and tropical independently, and many species can change seas worldwide and completely absent from the color or intensity of their patterns in cold waters. Pufferfish are mostly found in response to environmental changes. In these coastal regions, though some are oceanic respects they are somewhat similar to the (e.g., Lagocephaluslagocephalus) or live in terrestrial chameleon. Although most puffers the deep sea (e.g., Sphoeroidespachygaster). are drab, many have bright colors and The Tetraodontidae contains at least 121 distinctive markings and make no attempt to species of puffers in 19 genera. They are hide from predators. Due to some unknown typically small to medium in size, although a selection pressure, intronic and extragenic few species can reach lengths of sequences have been drastically reduced 100 centimetres (39 in). A large number of within this family. As a result, they have the puffers are found in brackish and fresh smallest-known genomes yet found amongst waters: at least 39 marine species enter the vertebrate animals, while containing a brackish or freshwater to feed or breed (e.g., genetic repertoire very similar to other fish Arothronhispidus), and a further 28 species and thus comparable to vertebrates are completely freshwater fish in generally. Since these genomes are distribution and never enter the sea (e.g., relatively compact it is relatively fast and Colomesusasellus). It is surprising that some inexpensive to compile their complete select species are even known to live in sequences, as has been done for two species entirely polluted water. (Takifugurubripes and Tetraodonnigro viridis). The puffers's unique and distinctive natural defenses are great due to their particular The buffer fish has a pelagic, or open-ocean, form of locomotion. Puffers use a life stage. Spawning occurs after males combination of pectoral, dorsal, anal, and slowly push females to the water surface. caudal fins for propulsion that make them The eggs are spherical and buoyant, floating highly maneuverable but very slow, and in the water. Hatching occurs roughly after therefore comparatively easy targets for four days. The larvae are predominately predators. As a defense mechanism, puffers yellow with scattered red spots. They are have the ability to inflate rapidly, filling well developed with a functional mouth, their extremely elastic stomachs with water eyes, and a swim bladder. Larvae less than (or air when outside the water) until they are ten days old are covered with a thin shell. almost spherical in shape. Thus, a hungry After the first ten days, the shell is lost and predator stalking the puffers may suddenly the spines begin to develop. The larvae find itself facing what seems to be a much undergo a metamorphosis approximately larger fish and pause, giving the puffers an three weeks after hatching. During this time, opportunity to retreat to safety. When lifted all the fins and fin rays are present and the out of water there is a risk that puffers teeth are formed. The red and yellow colors inflate with air. This may result in problems of the larvae do not persist into the juvenile deflating again afterwards. When this phase and are replaced by the olives and happens with aquarium specimens the browns; characteristic of adults. Dark spots recommended course of action for also appear on the juvenile's underside. fishkeepers is to hold the puffer underwater Pelagic juveniles are often associated with by the tail, head upwards, and shake the fish floating sargassum, and these spots may gently until the air escapes out of the mouth. serve as camouflage from predators such as 362 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2015) 4(3): 361-371 dolphin that swim below the seaweeds. LD50). It is estimated that a single puffer has Juveniles retain spotting until they move enough poison to kill 30 adult humans. inshore and become adults. The juvenile buffer fish does not undergo another Puffer poisoning usually results from metamorphosis to become an adult. All consumption of incorrectly prepared puffer changes now are external and include soup, chiri or occasionally from raw puffer elongation of the spines and normal body meat, sashimi fugu. While chiri is much growth more likely to cause death, sashimi fugu often causes intoxication, light-headedness, The puffer's toxin is called tetrodotoxin. and numbness of the lips, and is often eaten Some puffers also produce a powerful for this reason. Puffer's (tetrodotoxin) neurotoxin in their internal organs, making poisoning will cause deadening of the them an unpleasant, possibly lethal, meal for tongue and lips, dizziness, and vomiting. any predatory fish that eats one. This These are followed by numbness and neurotoxin is found primarily in the ovaries prickling over the body, rapid heart rate, and liver, although smaller amounts exist in decreased blood pressure, and muscle the intestines and skin, as well as trace paralysis. Death results from suffocation as amounts in muscle tissue and in its blood. diaphragm muscles are paralyzed. Patients This is likely an example of aposematism. who live longer than 24 hours are expected Puffer's toxin evolved as a response to to survive, although the poison can cause aquatic predators such as larger fish, rather comas lasting several days. Many people than for use against humans. Note also, not report being fully conscious during the all puffers are poisonous; Takifuguoblongus, entirety of the coma, and can often for example, is one of the few puffers that is remember everything that was said while not poisonous. However, it should be noted they were supposedly unconscious. In that puffer's neurotoxin is not necessarily as Voodoo, puffer's poison must be ingested by toxic to other animals as it is to humans, and the victim for the black magic of creating puffers are eaten routinely by some species "zombies," most likely because of the of fish, such as lizardfish and tiger sharks. It pseudocomatose effect. Pufferfish, called is also found within other animals such as pakpao, are also consumed in Thailand, the blue-ringed octopus, cone snail, and in usually by mistake, at times these fish are certain varieties of newt. Tetrodotoxin is eaten because they are cheaper to buy, and produced within the puffers by bacteria, there is little awareness or monitoring of the which are acquired through food. This situation. Patients are regularly hospitalized means that puffers raised in captivity do not or die as there are no specific preparations to contain tetrodotoxin, and therefore are not remove the toxin before eating. Treatment poisonous until they come into contact with consists of supportive care and intestinal the bacteria. The puffer itself has immunity decontamination with gastric lavage and to the poison due to a mutation in the protein activated charcoal. Case reports suggest that sequence of the Sodium ion channel on the anticholinesterases such as edrophonium cell membranes. Tetrodotoxin is an may be effective. Saxitoxin, the cause of exceptionally lethal poison. Tetrodotoxin is PSP (paralytic shellfish poisoning, red tide), said to be nearly 100 times deadlier than can also be found in puffers. Cases of potassium cyanide . In animal studies with neurologic symptoms, including numbness mice, 8 gtetrodotoxin per kilogram of body and tingling of the lips and mouth, have weight killed 50% of the mice (see also been reported to arise rapidly after the 363 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2015) 4(3): 361-371 consumption of puffers caught in the area of bought here.