New insights into the occurrence of paralytic shellfish toxins in the oceanic pufferfish Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Madeira Island, Portugal

Pufferfish are some of the most poisonous marine organisms due to their capability to accumulate potent neurotoxins such as tetrodotoxins (TTXs) and paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs). Several species are consumed, mainly in Asiatic countries, for the quality of their flesh, which may cause severe human poisoning every year due to errors in preparation. Lagocephalus lagocephalus the oceanic pufferfish, is a cosmopolitan species present in European Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Although considered toxic, only a few studies have previously addressed the occurrence of toxic compounds in this species. In the present study, 29 individuals of L. lagocephalus caught in Madeira Island (NE Atlantic) were dissected and analysed by HPLC-FLD for PSTs detection. Saxitoxin (STX) and decarbamoyl STX (dcSTX) were detected in liver, intestine and gonads but not in the muscle. Neosaxitoxin (NEO) could also be detected in a liver sample. The total STX equivalent (eq) concentrations in liver ranged from < LOQ to 973.4 μg STX eq kg−1. The presence of toxins in the intestines and gonads points to the fish capability to acquire toxins through feeding or by association with endosymbiotic, toxin-producing microbes as well as the ability to accumulate them in specific organs. Although pufferfish trade in Europe is forbidden by European Union regulations, the increasing occurrence of this species in new areas and the expected raise of blooms of PSTs-producer organisms claims for a better knowledge on oceanic pufferfish toxicity and biology. This will be needed to provide accurate information to stakeholders and population to prevent illegal trade of these species and poisoning incidents.PTDC/CTA-AMB/30557/2017; European Commission: Lisboa-01-0145-feder-030557; FCT: UIDB/Multi/04326/2020.