200 times higher than in muscle of T. rubripes. On the other
hand, the toxin levels in the muscle of L. wheeleri, C. rivulata
and A. reticularis were comparable to that in T. rubripes,
although the value for T. vermicularis was 6.3 times greater
than that for T. rubripes.
4. Discussion
TTX intoxication from the ingestion of toxic puffers is
relatively common in a number of Asian countries. In Japan,
for example, 100 annual human fatalities due to TTX intoxication
have been reported up to 1960. In the recent year,
however, poisoning incidents decreased after imposing
quarantine rules and creating public awareness of the
extensive study on the toxic properties of puffers. Nevertheless,
food poisoning due to ingestion of TTX-bearing