Gray Michelle J
Master of Veterinary Medicine Program, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Vet World. 2020 Jan;13(1):10-20. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.10-20. Epub 2020 Jan 3.
Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is the most common form of seafood toxicosis reported in humans worldwide. Dogs and cats are also susceptible to CFP, but there is little published and much unknown about the condition in these species. This study aimed to document the demographics of canine and feline cases of CFP, to examine the temporal and spatial distribution of cases, and to compare the incidence of animal and human CFP in the Cook Islands.
Six years of medical records from the Esther Honey Foundation Animal Clinic (the only veterinary clinic in the Cook Islands during the study period) were reviewed to identify cases of CFP. The study variables included the date of presentation, species, age, sex, neutering status, and village/locality.
A total of 246 cases of CFP were identified, comprising 165 dogs and 81 cats. The sexes were equally represented; however, within each sex, entire animals outnumbered those that had been desexed. Cases occurred year-round, with slightly higher numbers recorded in spring. Annual case numbers trended downward over the study period. Cases were documented in all regions of Rarotonga and also one outer island (Aitutaki). Fewer cases were seen in areas with a narrow (<200 m) fringing lagoon, compared with a wide (>400 m) lagoon.
This study documented epidemiologic patterns of canine and feline CFP cases for the first time. Based on the results, further investigation is warranted to establish whether desexing has a protective effect against CFP.
雪卡毒素中毒（CFP）是全球范围内报告的人类最常见的海鲜中毒形式。狗和猫也易患雪卡毒素中毒，但关于这些物种的这种病症，发表的文献很少，还有很多未知之处。本研究旨在记录犬猫雪卡毒素中毒病例的人口统计学特征，研究病例的时间和空间分布，并比较库克群岛动物和人类雪卡毒素中毒的发病率。
回顾了埃丝特·哈尼基金会动物诊所（研究期间库克群岛唯一的兽医诊所）六年的医疗记录，以确定雪卡毒素中毒病例。研究变量包括就诊日期、物种、年龄、性别、绝育状态以及村庄/地点。
共确定了246例雪卡毒素中毒病例，其中包括165只狗和81只猫。两性的病例数相当；然而，在每个性别中，未绝育的动物数量超过已绝育的动物。病例全年都有发生，春季记录的病例数略多。在研究期间，年度病例数呈下降趋势。拉罗汤加岛的所有地区以及一个外岛（艾图塔基岛）都有病例记录。与宽（>400米）泻湖地区相比，边缘泻湖窄（<200米）的地区病例较少。
本研究首次记录了犬猫雪卡毒素中毒病例的流行病学模式。根据研究结果，有必要进一步调查以确定绝育是否对雪卡毒素中毒有保护作用。
