Pufferfish

COMMON NAME:​ Pufferfish

SCIENTIFIC NAME:​ Tetraodontidae
TYPE​: Fish
DIET​: Carnivore
SIZE​: Up to 3 feet
SIZE​ ​RELATIVE TO A TEACUP

Biologists think pufferfish, also known as blowfish, developed their famous

“inflatability” because their slow, somewhat clumsy swimming style makes them
vulnerable to predators. In lieu of escape, pufferfish use their highly elastic
stomachs and the ability to quickly ingest huge amounts of water (and even air
when necessary) to turn themselves into a virtually inedible ball several times their
normal size. Some species also have spines on their skin to make them even less
palatable.

Toxicity
A predator that manages to snag a puffer before it inflates won’t feel lucky for
long. Almost all pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them foul
tasting and often lethal to fish. To humans, tetrodotoxin is deadly, up to 1,200
times more poisonous than cyanide. There is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill
30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote.

As Food
Amazingly, the meat of some pufferfish is considered a delicacy. Called fugu in
Japan, it is extremely expensive and only prepared by trained, licensed chefs who
know that one bad cut means almost certain death for a customer. In fact, many
such deaths occur annually.
Pufferfish Poisoning Overview
The poison found in pufferfish, blowfish, balloon fish, toads, sunfish, porcupine
fish, toadfish, globefish, and swellfish is a tetrodotoxin. This is ​one of the most
toxic poisons found in nature. ​Most people who eat pufferfish do so intentionally;
pufferfish are considered an Asian delicacy, served in some types of sushi and
sashimi. Unless the chef is specially trained to cut the meat in a particular fashion,
the dish may contain a large amount of the toxin. Pufferfish poisoning is similar to
paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Pufferfish Poisoning Symptoms

● Symptoms generally occur 10-45 minutes after eating the pufferfish poison
and begin with ​numbness​ and ​tingling​ ​around the mouth,​ ​salivation, nausea,
and vomiting.
● Symptoms may progress to ​paralysis, loss of consciousness, and respiratory
failure and can lead to death.

Pufferfish Poisoning Treatment

● Vomiting should be induced if the poisoned person is awake and alert and
has eaten the fish within 3 hours.
● The person may become paralyzed. Artificial respirations may keep the
person alive until medical attention in a hospital's emergency department is
possible.
● Rapidly turn the person onto his or her side if vomiting occurs.

When to Seek Medical Care

- Seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
NAME​ : ​Yahye Abukar Abdulle

IDNo​. : ​B4MD226

UNIVERSITY​ : ​Somali National University

COURSE​ : ​Pharmacology

LECTURER​ : ​Dr. Ali Jimale mohamed

ASSIGNMENT​: ​Natural toxin ( pufferfish)

Date of submission​ : ​07/05/2020