[Biological assay of ciguatoxin in the chicken: analysis of the symptoms induced and toxicity of extracts of ciguatoxic chickens of the island of Saint Barthelemy].

Ciguatera poisoning was studied in the chicken where it gave rise to internal hypersalivation, acute motor ataxia, low rectal temperature and arrested growth. LD50 figures indicated that the chicken is two to five time at least more sensitive to ciguatoxin than the mouse. So the chick is very convenient for laboratory studies in ciguatera research.