Toxicity of puffer fish cultured in netcages

Abstract

During 1990 to 2003, the toxicity of the liver in 4,515 specimens of the puffer fish Takifugu rubripes (torafugu) cultured in netcages or on land were investigated by means of mouse bioassay and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Other tissues (skin, muscles, gonads, etc.) were also investigated in some of them. All the livers and other parts examined were found to be non-toxic. The peak corresponding to tetrodotoxin (TTX) was not detected in the samples by LC/MS analysis for TTX (<0.1 MU/g). These results show that puffer fish fed on a non-toxic diet in netcages do not become intoxicated.