David C. Cook, Wonga Beach, Australia
Info
(Forsskål, 1775)
Lutjanus argentimaculatus, also known as Mangrove Red Snapper or Mangrove Jack is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific from Samoa and the Line Islands to East Africa, and from Australia northward to the Ryukyu Islands (Allen, 1985). It is a marine species but is also found in brackish mangrove estuaries and the lower reaches of freshwater streams. It migrates offshore to deeper reef areas, sometimes penetrating depths exceeding 100 m.
The colour of mangrove jack is quite distinctive, varying from bright reddish-brown to dark olive-brown. Fins have a pinkish hue, with the tail generally a darker shade. Each scale has a dark spot, which gives the appearance of cris-crossing lines on the body. Juveniles possess a blue line below the eye, which is also often evident on the adult. The mangrove jack is an extremely strong fighter and regularly finds shelter among submerged snags, making them a very challenging recreational species.
Consuming this animal can trigger the dreaded Ciguatera fish poisoning.
The cause is to be found in certain unicellular organisms (dinoflagellates, such as Gambierdiscus toxicus), which produce toxins in the body of harmless and otherwise well-tolerated food fish, which can lead to various symptoms in humans:
Initial symptoms: Sweating, numbness and burning, especially around the mouth.
This is followed later by chills, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and muscle cramps. Paresthesia (itching, tingling, numbness) on the lips, the mucous membrane of the mouth and especially on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, numbness in the hands, feet and face.
Paralysis of the skeletal muscles, including the respiratory muscles, dizziness and coordination disorders may occur. Muscle pain, joint pain, headache, toothache, shivering and sweating are further symptoms. A general feeling of weakness develops. Consumption of alcohol aggravates the symptoms.
Less common are life-threatening drops in blood pressure and palpitations (tachycardia) or the opposite. Overall, the condition is very rare, but it leads to death in about 7% of cases.
Attention: An antidote does not exist!
First aid:
As early as possible: Pump out the stomach, if vomiting does not occur by itself
Activated carbon (medical carbon) give to bind the toxins: dosage is 1 g / kg body weight.
Promote excretion: As an acute therapy, the attending physician can give an infusion of 20% mannitol (sugar alcohol). The mechanism of action is unclear. Mannitol promotes urine excretion, so this measure should only be taken after fluid and electrolytes have been supplemented to prevent a circulatory collapse.
Rehydration with fluid and electrolytes is a sensible measure anyway, especially after vomiting and diarrhoea.
In life-threatening situations, plasma expanders should be given, i.e. infusions that increase the volume of the blood and remain in the circulation for a long time.
Cardiovascular symptoms may require further medical intervention: Atropine can be given if the heartbeat slows down, dopamine if the blood pressure drops.
You can find more information here:
http://www.dr-bernhard-peter.de/Apotheke/seite116.htm
Synonyme:
Alphestes gembra Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Alphestes sambra Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Diacope superbus Castelnau, 1878
Diacopus superbus Castelnau, 1878
Lutianus argentimaculatus (Forsskål, 1775)
Lutianus jahngarah Day, 1875
Lutianus salmonoides Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908
Lutjanus argentimculatus (Forsskål, 1775)
Mesoprion flavipinnis Cuvier, 1828
Mesoprion garretti Günther, 1873
Mesoprion griseoides Guichenot, 1863
Mesoprion obscurus MacLeay, 1881
Mesoprion olivaceus Cuvier, 1828
Mesoprion roseigaster MacLeay, 1881
Mesoprion sexfasciatus MacLeay, 1883
Mesoprion taeniops Valenciennes, 1830
Perca argentata Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Sciaena argentata Gmelin, 1789
Sciaena argentimaculata Forsskål, 1775
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Lutjanus argentimaculatus, also known as Mangrove Red Snapper or Mangrove Jack is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific from Samoa and the Line Islands to East Africa, and from Australia northward to the Ryukyu Islands (Allen, 1985). It is a marine species but is also found in brackish mangrove estuaries and the lower reaches of freshwater streams. It migrates offshore to deeper reef areas, sometimes penetrating depths exceeding 100 m.
The colour of mangrove jack is quite distinctive, varying from bright reddish-brown to dark olive-brown. Fins have a pinkish hue, with the tail generally a darker shade. Each scale has a dark spot, which gives the appearance of cris-crossing lines on the body. Juveniles possess a blue line below the eye, which is also often evident on the adult. The mangrove jack is an extremely strong fighter and regularly finds shelter among submerged snags, making them a very challenging recreational species.
Consuming this animal can trigger the dreaded Ciguatera fish poisoning.
The cause is to be found in certain unicellular organisms (dinoflagellates, such as Gambierdiscus toxicus), which produce toxins in the body of harmless and otherwise well-tolerated food fish, which can lead to various symptoms in humans:
Initial symptoms: Sweating, numbness and burning, especially around the mouth.
This is followed later by chills, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and muscle cramps. Paresthesia (itching, tingling, numbness) on the lips, the mucous membrane of the mouth and especially on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, numbness in the hands, feet and face.
Paralysis of the skeletal muscles, including the respiratory muscles, dizziness and coordination disorders may occur. Muscle pain, joint pain, headache, toothache, shivering and sweating are further symptoms. A general feeling of weakness develops. Consumption of alcohol aggravates the symptoms.
Less common are life-threatening drops in blood pressure and palpitations (tachycardia) or the opposite. Overall, the condition is very rare, but it leads to death in about 7% of cases.
Attention: An antidote does not exist!
First aid:
As early as possible: Pump out the stomach, if vomiting does not occur by itself
Activated carbon (medical carbon) give to bind the toxins: dosage is 1 g / kg body weight.
Promote excretion: As an acute therapy, the attending physician can give an infusion of 20% mannitol (sugar alcohol). The mechanism of action is unclear. Mannitol promotes urine excretion, so this measure should only be taken after fluid and electrolytes have been supplemented to prevent a circulatory collapse.
Rehydration with fluid and electrolytes is a sensible measure anyway, especially after vomiting and diarrhoea.
In life-threatening situations, plasma expanders should be given, i.e. infusions that increase the volume of the blood and remain in the circulation for a long time.
Cardiovascular symptoms may require further medical intervention: Atropine can be given if the heartbeat slows down, dopamine if the blood pressure drops.
You can find more information here:
http://www.dr-bernhard-peter.de/Apotheke/seite116.htm
Synonyme:
Alphestes gembra Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Alphestes sambra Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Diacope superbus Castelnau, 1878
Diacopus superbus Castelnau, 1878
Lutianus argentimaculatus (Forsskål, 1775)
Lutianus jahngarah Day, 1875
Lutianus salmonoides Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908
Lutjanus argentimculatus (Forsskål, 1775)
Mesoprion flavipinnis Cuvier, 1828
Mesoprion garretti Günther, 1873
Mesoprion griseoides Guichenot, 1863
Mesoprion obscurus MacLeay, 1881
Mesoprion olivaceus Cuvier, 1828
Mesoprion roseigaster MacLeay, 1881
Mesoprion sexfasciatus MacLeay, 1883
Mesoprion taeniops Valenciennes, 1830
Perca argentata Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Sciaena argentata Gmelin, 1789
Sciaena argentimaculata Forsskål, 1775
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