Tetrodotoxin (TTX) – Marine Neurotoxin Explained

1. Recently, several people fell seriously ill after consuming seafood at a restaurant in Vizhinjam, Kerala. Doctors and food safety authorities suspect contamination by Tetrodotoxin (TTX).
2. What Is Tetrodotoxin (TTX)?
   1. It is an extremely potent marine neurotoxin (powerful marine poison), found in certain marine animals that can paralyse muscles and may cause death.
   2. Tetrodotoxin is over 1000 times more toxic than sodium cyanide.
   3. Properties of TTX:
      1. A crystalline, colourless organic compound
      2. Weakly basic in nature
      3. Darkens when heated beyond 220°C
      4. Chemical formula: C₁₁H₁₇N₃O₈
      5. Even very tiny quantities are dangerous.
3. Where Does Tetrodotoxin Come From?
   1. TTX occurs naturally in the skin, intestines, and liver of fish belonging to the Tetraodontidae family.
   2. Common carriers include Puffer fish, Porcupine fish and Ocean sunfish. Apart from fish, some newts and salamanders also contain this toxin.
4. How Do Humans Get Poisoned: Human poisoning usually happens when toxic fish are improperly cleaned or prepared, and their flesh or internal organs are consumed. In many cases, people are unaware that the seafood contains TTX.
5. How Does Tetrodotoxin Affect the Body?
   1. TTX blocks nerve signal transmission. Messages from nerves fail to reach muscles.
   2. Muscles gradually become paralysed. Breathing muscles may stop functioning.
   3. This leads to progressive muscle paralysis and respiratory failure in severe cases
6. Treatment: TTX poisoning can be fatal. There is no specific antidote available. Treatment is mainly supportive care, respiratory assistance and monitoring until toxin effects wear off. Survival depends on early medical intervention.

FAQs

Q1. What is Tetrodotoxin? 

It is an extremely potent marine neurotoxin, over 1000 times more toxic than sodium cyanide, capable of paralysing muscles and causing death.

Q2. What are the properties of Tetrodotoxin?

1. Crystalline, colourless organic compound
2. Weakly basic in nature
3. Darkens when heated beyond 220°C
4. Chemical formula: C₁₁H₁₇N₃O₈
5. Even tiny amounts are dangerous

Q3. Where does Tetrodotoxin come from? 

It occurs naturally in the skin, intestines, and liver of fish from the Tetraodontidae family (puffer fish, porcupine fish, ocean sunfish). Some newts and salamanders also contain it.

Q4. How do humans get poisoned from Tetrodotoxin? 

Usually through improper cleaning or preparation of toxic fish, leading to ingestion of contaminated flesh or organs.

Q5. How does Tetrodotoxin affect the body? 

It blocks nerve signal transmission, preventing communication between nerves and muscles. This causes progressive paralysis, and in severe cases, respiratory failure.

Q6. Is there a cure for Tetrodotoxin? 

There is no specific antidote. Treatment is supportive: respiratory assistance, monitoring, and early medical intervention to improve survival chances.