Tetrodotoxin, also known as Fugu poison, Maculotoxin, Spheroidine, Tarichatoxin, or TTX, is a natural toxin that can cause poisoning and death in humans. Tetrodotoxin is toxic primarily through the digestive system and is a potent neurotoxin. Its name is derived from the order Tetraodontiformes, which includes pufferfish, porcupinefish, moonfish, and some other species that carry this toxin.
Pufferfish
Pufferfish (also referred to as blowfish, toadfish, or chicken fish) comprise hundreds of species around the world: in the United States, they are called pufferfish, and in Japan, they are known as fugu fish. In Vietnam, there are nearly 70 different species. Pufferfish are more commonly found in saltwater than in freshwater. The toxic pufferfish typically range in length from 4 to 40 cm, with a stout body, short fins, large heads, bulging eyes, and white flesh. The toxin is concentrated in the skin, intestines, liver, abdominal muscles, gonads, and most notably in the fish’s eggs, making females more toxic than males, especially during the spawning season. This toxin is called tetrodotoxin (TTX).
Tetrodotoxin found in pufferfish is considered one of the most potent neurotoxins.
Tetrodotoxin found in pufferfish is regarded as one of the most potent neurotoxins affecting the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Previous scientific research has indicated that this toxin may be used to develop anesthetics, lower blood pressure, treat bronchitis, stimulate the nervous and circulatory systems, and assist in treating addictions to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
Some Food Sources Containing Tetrodotoxin
Currently, pufferfish poisoning, particularly from consuming pufferfish, is a significant issue worldwide, resulting in serious health consequences and loss of life among consumers.
In Japan, statistics show that between 1954 and 1963, there were 1,962 reported cases of pufferfish poisoning, with 1,153 fatalities (87.76% of those affected). According to data from the World Health Organization, the incidence of poisoning and deaths due to pufferfish accounts for 60% of all seafood-related poisoning cases.
In the coastal waters of Vietnam, there are many seafood species capable of producing toxins. Six types of toxins have been identified in seafood: tetrodotoxin (a neurotoxin), ciguatera, DSP (diarrhea-causing toxin), PSP (paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin), NSP (neurotoxic shellfish poisoning toxin), and ASP (amnesic shellfish poisoning toxin).
Among seafood species, pufferfish contain the highest levels of toxins. Various toxic compounds have been found in different parts of the fish, such as tetrodonin, tetrodotoxin, and tetrodonin acid in the ovaries, and hepatotoxins in the liver. The skin and blood of the fish also contain these toxins. The flesh of the fish is generally non-toxic, but when the fish dies or decomposes, toxins from the ovaries and liver can seep into the flesh, rendering it toxic.
One of the Two Most Expensive Toxins in the World
As a highly potent toxin that can cause death almost instantly, many countries are still willing to pay an “unimaginable” price to acquire it.
The current market price for tetrodotoxin ranges from 100,000 to 300,000 USD per gram, equivalent to approximately 2.3 to 6.9 billion VND per gram (depending on purity). Tetrodotoxin with a purity of over 99% can be used as medication. However, as of now, no country has managed to synthesize tetrodotoxin into a pharmaceutical product.
According to scientific studies, tetrodotoxin is primarily used as a pain reliever, anesthetic, detoxifying agent, and tranquilizer. However, this substance is extremely rare and very expensive, with an annual production of only 5 to 10 kg.
