saxitoxin and Headache

Saxitoxins (STX) and tetrodotoxins (TTX) are a group of chemical compounds produced by certain species of marine algae and fish. Lethal dose for a human is about 0.5-2.0 mg when the toxin enters the body via food, and 0.05 mg of poisoning at the time of injection. In the case of aerosol the lethal dose for human being is 5 mg/min/m(3). STX and TTX poisoning cause mostly symptoms from the nervous system in the form of: paresthesia around the lips, tongue, gums, distal segments of the limbs, headache, dysphonia, astigmatism, floating feeling, muscle weakness, paralysis of cranial and peripheral nerves. There is no specific antidote for STX and TTX. It is recommended supportive treatment.

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Administration, Oral; Aerosols; Animals; Astigmatism; Biological Warfare Agents; Dysphonia; Headache; Humans; Lethal Dose 50; Muscle Weakness; Paralysis; Paresthesia; Saxitoxin; Tetrodotoxin

Toxins formed by organic micro-organisms may accumulate within certain tissues of predacious sea animals, which may serve as a source of seafood poisoning for the higher food chain. Such toxins are distinct from inorganic chemicals or infectious agents which may have contaminated the seafoods. Distinct clinical syndromes have emerged, and the individual toxins have been identified. Clinical manifestations of each begin with a gastrointestinal prodrome and headache, followed by sensorimotor deficits. Bulbar and cognitive changes are associated with the more lethal tetrodotoxin, saxitoxin, and domoic acid toxin. Tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin block sodium channels, while ciguatoxin opens them. Domoic acid stimulates excitatory amino acids at the NMDA receptors.

Topics: Brain Diseases; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive; Ciguatoxins; Cognition Disorders; Foodborne Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Headache; Humans; Mannitol; Psychomotor Disorders; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Saxitoxin; Seafood; Sodium Channels; Tetrodotoxin