Kungsuwan A, Arakawa O, Promdet M, Onoue Y
Fishery Technological Development Institute, Department of Fisheries, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand.
Toxicon. 1997 Aug;35(8):1341-6. doi: 10.1016/s0041-0101(97)00001-9.
Screening tests were carried out on the toxicity of freshwater puffers Tetraodon leiurus complex and Tetraodon suvatii collected from Udonthani province, north-eastern Thailand. Toxicity was highest in the liver and varied according to the location and season of fish catch. Fish which were reared in tap water for 3 months reduced the toxicity substantially. Partial purification was achieved by an ultrafiltration technique. Toxin components were consequently identified by high-performance liquid chromatography. It was found that toxins separated from the eggs, liver, skin and muscle of these puffers were composed of saxitoxin, neosaxitoxin and decarbamoylsaxitoxin.
