Local Differences in the Toxin Amount and Composition of Tetrodotoxin and Related Compounds in Pufferfish (Chelonodon patoca) and Toxic Goby (Yongeichthys criniger) Juveniles

Abstract

Tetrodotoxin (TTX)-bearing fish ingest TTX from their preys through the food chain and accumulate TTX in their bodies. Although a wide variety of TTX-bearing organisms have been reported, the missing link in the TTX supply chain has not been elucidated completely. Here, we investigated the composition of TTX and 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX in juveniles of the pufferfish, Chelonodon patoca, and toxic goby, Yongeichthys criniger, using LC–MS/MS, to resolve the missing link in the TTX supply chain. The TTX concentration varied among samples from different localities, sampling periods and fish species. In the samples from the same locality, the TTX concentration was significantly higher in the toxic goby juveniles than in the pufferfish juveniles. The concentration of TTX in all the pufferfish juveniles was significantly higher than that of 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX, whereas the compositional ratio of TTX and 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX in the goby was different among sampling localities. However, the TTX/5,6,11-trideoxyTTX ratio in the goby was not different among samples collected from the same locality at different periods. Based on a species-specific PCR, the detection rate of the toxic flatworm (Planocera multitentaculata)-specific sequence (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) also varied between the intestinal contents of the pufferfish and toxic goby collected at different localities and periods. These results suggest that although the larvae of the toxic flatworm are likely to be responsible for the toxification of the pufferfish and toxic goby juveniles by TTX, these fish juveniles are also likely to feed on other TTX-bearing organisms depending on their habitat, and they also possess different accumulation mechanisms of TTX and 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX.

Tetrodotoxin Profiles in Xanthid Crab Atergatis floridus and Blue-Lined Octopus Hapalochlaena cf. fasciata from the Same Site in Nagasaki, Japan

“…fasciata as the source of TTX. This suggestion is supported by reports that the possession of similar major toxins in several different organisms, such as two species of ribbon worm [ 38 ], pufferfish and goby [ 39 ], suggests the presence of a common prey. TTX is thought to accumulate in higher trophic levels through the food chain starting from the TTX-producing bacteria [ 7 , 9 ].…”

Tetrodotoxins in Ribbon Worms Cephalothrix cf. simula and Kulikovia alborostrata from Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

“…The effect of prey toxins profiles on predator ones has already been demonstrated by several researchers. Thus, Ito et al [ 28 ] have shown that the TTX / 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX ratio in pufferfish ( Chelonodon patoca ) and toxic goby ( Yongeichthys criniger ) can result from this ratio in their presumable prey, the flatworm Planocera multitentaculata. In another study on Octopus vulgaris fed shellfish, containing another group of guanidinium toxins, paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), the similar PSTs prevailed as a result [ 29 ].…”

An Overview of the Anatomical Distribution of Tetrodotoxin in Animals

“…High levels of toxicity have been observed in species of the genera Arothron, Amblyrhynchotes, Chelonodon, Dichotomyctere, Lagocephalus, and Sphoeroides [8][9][10][11][12][13]. TTX is also found in the species Yongeichthys criniger (Gobius criniger) of the order Gobiiformes [14][15][16][17].…”