The seasonal toxicological profile of four puffer fish species collected along Bengal coast, India

Abstract

276-280Toxicological profiles of the livers and ovaries of four Indian marine puffer fish species viz. Chelonodon patoca, Takifugu oblongus, Lagocephalus lunaris, Lagocephalus inermis collected along coastal Bengal of Digha-Talsari region were evaluated by mouse bioassay. Toxicity expressed in MU (mouse unit)/g in ovaries of all four species were high in monsoon (13.9 – 80 MU/g) and postmonsoon (8.9 – 136 MU/g) seasons during annual reproductive cycle. However, toxicity of livers was much lower (3.2 – 18.5 MU/g) in all the species with seasonal variation. Chelonodon patoca specimens were found to be most toxic and Lagocephalus inermis were least toxic in comparison to other species under investigation. Therefore, health hazard due to puffer fish consumption could be minimised by the information given in this study regarding lethality