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Phytoplankton Monitoring Network
Promoting a better understanding of harmful algal blooms by way of volunteer monitoring
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Gambierdiscus toxicus (gam-bee-uhr-DIHSK-uhs TOKS-ihk-uhs)
Species Distribution:
Gambierdiscus toxicus, is a dinoflagellate found in the coastal waters off the Gulf of Mexico and Carribean as well as in other tropical
and subtropical coral reef regions worldwide.
Toxins/Mode of Action: Ciguatoxin (CTX) and Maitotoxin (MTX)
Ciguatoxin (CTX), activates voltage dependent sodium channels (VDSC) and Maitotoxin (MTX), activates voltage dependent calcium channels (VDCC)
indirectly by membrane depolarization. full chemical structure
Human Health Syndrome: Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP)
Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) produces gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiovascular symptoms which usually begin developing within 12 to 24 hours
of eating contaminated fish. Initially, gastrointestinal symptoms of diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting occur, followed by neurological
symptoms of numbness and tingling of hands and feet, dizziness, altered hot/cold perception , muscle aches, and low heart rates and blood pressure. In
extreme cases, death occurs through respiratory failure. Learn more about ciguatera in an excerpt from Diversity of Marine and Freshwater Algal Toxins
Species Associated With CFP:
- Amphidinium carterae
- Coolia monotis
- Ostereopsis siamensis
- Prorocentrum lima
Syndrome Distribution: People are affected by CFP throughout the globe because of travel to the tropics as well as the shipment of tropical fish to markets worldwide. In the Caribbean region gastrointestinal symptoms dominate cases of CFP, where as in the Pacific region neurological symptoms dominate. CFP is thought to be the most under reported human health syndrome with estimates of 30,000 people affected per year.
