ABSTRACT
Many cases of human intoxication due to the ingestion of several Tetrodotoxin (TTX)-bearing pufferfish species have been recorded, mainly in Japan, China, and Taiwan where they have been historically consumed, and several victims have died. The toxic parts are different depending on species of pufferfish, their size and areas of catch. In toxic marine pufferfish, the liver toxicity shows very high throughout the year except the breeding season, during which the ovary becomes highly toxic due to the accumulation of TTX transferred from liver. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) poisoning results normally from the ingestion of the flesh or viscera of certain species of pufferfish. In several Asian countries where pufferfish are consumed, TTX poisoning is the most commonly reported fish poisoning. In Bangladesh, a food poisoning incident due to ingestion of the roe of the marine pufferfish Takifugu oblongus was reported in November 1998. The usual route of human intoxication is via the ingestion of TTX-bearing pufferfish species.
