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Ed Dunkel

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  2. Posted

    Just need to find someone with access to Clinical Toxicology:

    de Haro Luc; Pommier Philip "Hallucinatory fish poisoning (ichthyoallyeinotoxism): two case reports from the Western Mediterranean and literature review." Clinical toxicology (2006), 44(2), 185-8

    Found it!

    Abstract:

    Ichthyoallyeinotoxism is a rare kind of food poisoning contracted following the ingestion of fish. The responsible toxins are unknown, and the clinical feature is characterized by the development of CNS disturbances, especially hallucinations and nightmares. As the implicated fish species may be also related to ciguatera poisoning, there may be possible confusion between the two fish-borne intoxications. In order to clarify this, the literature pertaining to "dreamfish" was reviewed and two cases are presented. A 40-year-old man experienced mild digestive troubles and terrifying visual and auditory hallucinations after eating a specimen of Sarpa salpa in a restaurant. As he had severe behaviour troubles, he was managed in the hospital and recovered 36 h after the meal. He was unable to recall the hallucinatory period. Another man, 90-years-old and previously healthy, had auditory hallucinations 2 h after eating a specimen of Sarpa salpa. The two following nights, he had numerous nightmares and recovered spontaneously after a period of 3 days.

    Keywords Ichthyoallyeinotoxism; Ichthyosarcotoxism; Hallucinatory Fish Poisoning; Dreamfish

    Full Text :COPYRIGHT 2006 Taylor & Francis Ltd.

    INTRODUCTION

    Ichthyosarcotoxism is a type of food poisoning caused via the ingestion of fish. The most common and widely investigated form of ichthyosarcotoxism is ciguatera poisoning that affects the peripheral nervous system. It is due to contamination of fish flesh by various toxins produced by the benthic dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus. A less common form is ichthyoallyeinotoxism, characterized by development of central nervous system disturbances, especially hallucinations and nightmares. Ichthyoallyeinotoxism has been reported in many locations around the world (1,2). The purpose of this article is to describe two new cases of ichthyoallyeinotoxism that occurred in the Western Mediterranean after ingestion of Sarpa salpa, and to review the literature concerning this rare poisoning.

    CASE 1

    April 1994

    A previously healthy 40-year-old executive began feeling weak and tired within 2 h after eating freshly caught baked sea bream (Sarpa salpa) for dinner while on vacation in Cannes on the French Riviera. Nausea and vomiting developed quickly during the night. The next day symptoms persisted and were accompanied by marked muscle weakness. He decided to shorten his vacation and drive home. At that point, he began to experience blurring of vision and hallucinations involving aggressive and screaming animals. Agitation and disorientation led him to seek medical assistance (he was not able to drive anymore as he was seeing giant arthropods around his car). Physical examination upon arrival at the hospital emergency room demonstrated no notable abnormalities: no fever, no sign of focalization or sensory-motor deficit, and normal hemodynamic status except for sinusal tachycardia linked directly to the mental disturbances. During hospitalization, the patient recovered rapidly with complete resolution of symptoms within 36 h post ingestion. He was unable to recall the hallucinatory period.

    CASE 2

    March 2002

    A previously healthy 90-year-old retiree began experiencing auditory hallucinations 2 h after ingesting a sea bream (Sarpa salpa) that he had purchased from a professional fisherman in Saint Tropez on the French Riviera. He was used to eating this kind of fish, and had cleaned the fish after he had purchased it. Hallucinations were of a particularly terrifying nature (human screams and bird squealing), and he had numerous nightmares for the next two nights. Fearing that these symptoms might signal the beginning of a major mental illness, he did not tell his friends or attending physician. The manifestations abated three days after he had eaten the fish. Later, he recalled a warning that he had heard at the fish market concerning the hallucinogenic potential of sea bream and decided to contact the Poison Control Center in Marseille.

    DISCUSSION

    Clinical symptoms of ichthyoallyeinotoxism occur within a few minutes to 2 h after ingestion of toxic fish. The first symptoms resemble inebriety with loss of balance and coordination and generalized malaise (1-3). Sore throat and heartburn have also been reported in the initial phase. Within a few hours, specific signs of poisoning occur including delirium, visual and/or auditory hallucinations (often involving animals), depression, feelings of impending death with reactive tachycardia and hyperventilation, and disturbed behavior. If they are able to sleep, patients classically report terrifying nightmares (3). Gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea have been described in a few cases, but are usually low-grade (3). No specific treatment or antidote treatment is available. Appropriate management of transient behavioral disturbances (e.g., using benzodiazepine or neuroleptics), is important to prevent self-inflicted or other injury. Symptomatic treatment for gastrointestinal manifestation can enhance patient comfort. Symptoms generally abate within 24 to 36 h, but weakness may persist for several days (1-3).

    Ichthyoallyeinotoxism is widespread in tropical and temperate areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans as well as in the Mediterranean Sea. Toxic fish species belong to the 8 families detailed in Table 1. Most are herbivores or scavengers living in coastal areas. It should be noted that toxicity in all species varies according to fishing location, season, and way of preparing the fish (3). In the Mediterranean, most poisonings involving Sarpa salpa (eaten in Tunisia, France and Israel but considered as inedible in Italy and Spain), have been reported in spring and summer (4-7). A classically reported exacerbating factor is consumption of fish cooked without removing the head, and/or not immediately gutted after being caught (8). Although the toxic agents are still unknown, some authors have implicated toxic macroalgaes (caulerpaceae family) that are ingested and contaminate the flesh of fish (3,4). These toxins are probably heat stable since case reports have been described after ingestion of fried, boiled, steamed or raw fish (3,7). Most cases have been described anecdotally as unexpected, sporadic accidental food poisonings, usually occurring in endemic areas after consumption of fish considered as safe. However some cases of intentional consumption of "dreamfish" have been reported (810). Consumption of Sarpa salpa was reported for recreational purposes in the Mediterranean during the Roman Empire (1 1), and for ceremonial purposes particularly in Polynesian populations (8-10). The traditional names given to hallucinogenic species reflect their potentially toxic effect. Sarpa salpa is called "the fish that makes dreams" in Arab; Siganus spinus is called "the fish that inebriates" in Mascareignes (southwest coast of Reunion Island) (12,13); and Mulloidichthys samoensis is called "the chief of ghosts" in the Hawaiian Islands of Molokai, Kauai, and Oahu (8, 14, 15).

    It should be emphasized that tropical fish species that cause ichthyoallyeinotoxism are also implicated in cases of ciguatera poisoning. In this regard, there has been some confusion concerning these two forms of ichthyosarcotoxism. Some cases of ichthyoallyeinotoxism reported in the western (11) and eastern Mediterranean (5-7,16) after ingestion of Sarpa salpa or Siganus luridus, have been described as ciguatera despite typical clinical signs of ichthyoallyeinotoxism, (i.e., hallucinations and nightmares lasting for a few hours). In this regard, it should be noted that the presence of Gambierdiscus toxicus, the dinoflagellate solely responsible for ciguatera, has not been formally documented in the Mediterranean. It should be emphasized that there are differences in clinical expression: ichthyoallyeinotoxism is characterized by central nervous system involvement, whereas ciguatera features peripheral nervous system involvement. The two diseases are also different with regard to potential severity and duration. Most patients with ichthyoallyeinotoxism recover within 36 h (1-3), while many patients with ciguatera die or present prolonged symptomatology for several months (17).

    CONCLUSION

    Ichthyoallyeinotoxism is a rare, poorly understood fish-borne intoxication. Its incidence is probably underestimated for several reasons. The first is that symptoms often occur at night and are short-lived. As a result, patients do not always seek medical advice, as was the case for our second patient. Another reason is that the disease occurs in remote geographical areas (islands and isolated archipelagoes), where there are few medical facilities able to document cases. Finally, voluntary ingestion by its very nature seldom leads to medical intervention. Great care is necessary to avoid confusing ichthyoallyeinotoxism and ciguatera that involve the same species in overlapping endemic areas.

    Received 15 March 2005; accepted 24 March 2005.

    REFERENCES

    (1.) Halstead BW. Poisonous and venomous marine animals. Princetown, NJ: Darwin Press Inc., 1988:683-686.

    (2.) Chateau-Degat ML. Les toxines marines: problemes de sante en emergence. Vertigo 2003; 4(1): 1-11.

    (3.) Helfrich P, Banner A. Hallucinatory Mullet poisoning. J Trop Med Hyg 1960; 1:86-89.

    (4.) Chevaldonne P. Ciguatera and the saupe, Sarpa salpa, in the Mediterranean: a possible misinterpretation. J Fish Biol 1990; 37:503-504.

    (5.) Spanier E, Finkelstein Y, Raikhlin-Eisenkraft B. Toxicity of the saupe, Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758), on the Mediterranean coast of Israel. J Fish Biol 1989; 34:635-636.

    (6.) Raikhlin-Eisenkraft B, Finkelstein Y, Spanier E. Ciguatera-like poisoning in the Mediterranean. Vet Hum Toxicol 1988; 30(6):582-583.

    (7.) Raikhlin-Eisenkraft B, Bentur Y. Rabbitfish ("Aras"). An unusual source of ciguatera poisoning. Isr Med Assoc J 2002: 4:28-30.

    (8.) Helfrich P. Fish Poisoning in Hawaii. Hawaii Med J 1963, 22(5):361-372.

    (9.) Roughly TC, Roberts BJ. Bounty descendant live on remote Norfolk Island. National Geographic Mag 1960; 116(6):575.

    (10.) Cooper MJ. Ciguatera and other marine poisoning in the Gilbert Islands. Pacific Sci 1964; 18(4):411-440.

    (11.) de Haro L, Treffot MJ, Jouglard J, Perringue C. Trois cas d'intoxication de type ciguaterique apres ingestion de sparidae de Mediterranee. Ictyophysiologica Acta 1993; 16:133-146.

    (12.) Lebeau A. La ciguatera darts l'Ocean Indien: etude des poissons veneneux des bancs de l'archipel des Mascareignes et de la crete centrale de l'Ocean Indien. Rev Trav Inst Peches Marit 1979; 42(4):325-345.

    (13.) Quod JP, Turquet J. Ciguatera in Reunion Island: epidemiology and clinical patterns. Toxicon 1996; 34(7):779-785.

    (14.) Jordan DS, Evermann BW, Tanaka S. Notes on new or rare fishes from Hawaii. Proc California Acad Sci 1927; 16(20):649-680.

    (15.) Banner AH. Hallucinatory mullet poisoning. A case from Oahu. Hawaii Med J 1973; 32(5):330-331.

    (16.) Herzberg A. Toxicity of Siganus luridus on the Mediterranean Coast of Israel. Aquaculture 1973; 2:89-91.

    (17.) de Haro L, Pommier P, Valli M. Emergence of imported ciguatera in Europe: report of 18 cases at the poison control centre of Marseille. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2003; 41 (7):927-930.

    (18.) Randall JE. A review of ciguatera, tropical fish poisoning, with tentative explanation of its cause. Bull Marine Sci Gulf Caribbean 1958; 8(3):236-267.

    (19.) Halstead BW, Cox KM. An investigation on fish poisoning in Mauritius. Proc Roy Soc Arts Sci Mauritius 1973; 4(2): 1-26.

    Luc de Haro and Philip Pommier

    Centre Antipoison, Hopital Salvator, Marseille, France

    Address correspondence to Luc de Haro, Toxicovigilance, Centre Antipoison, Hopital Salvator, 249 boulevard Sainte Marguerite, 13009 Marseille, France. E-mail: [email protected]

    TABLE 1

    Fish species described as hallucinogenic in the Literature

    Geographical

    Fish Families Species distribution

    Acanthuridae Acanthurus triostegus Indo-Pacific Ocean

    Kyphosidae Kyphosus cinerascens 3 species in

    Kyphosus vaigiensis Indo-Pacific Ocean

    Kyphosus fuscus

    Mugilidae Mugil cephalus Cosmopolitan

    Neomyxus chaptalli Indo-Pacific Ocean

    Mullidae Mulloidichthys Both species in

    samoensis Indo-Pacific Ocean

    Upeneus arge

    Pomacentridae Abudefduf Indo-Pacific Ocean

    septemfasciatus

    Serranidae Epinephelus Tropical Indo-Pacific

    corallicola Ocean

    Siganidae Siganus argenteus 5 species in Indo-Pacific

    Siganus corallinus Ocean, S. luridus and

    Siganus luridus S.rivulatus settled in

    Siganus rivulatus Mediterranean and

    Siganus spinus Red sea

    Sparidae Sarpa salpa Mediterranean sea

    Feeding

    Fish Families Common names behaviour

    Acanthuridae Convict surgeonfsh, Tang (USA), Herbivorous

    Manini (Hawaii)

    Kyphosidae Sea chub (USA), Nenue, Manaloa Herbivorous

    (Hawaii), Dreamfish (Norfolk)

    Mugilidae Common mullet (USA), Ama (Hawaii), Omnivorous

    Haarder, flathead mullet (South Africa)

    Mullidae Surmullet, goatfish (USA), Weke'a'a, Omnivorous

    Weke-ula (Hawaii for M. samoensis),

    Weke pueo (Hawaii for U. arge), Jome

    (Marshall Islands), Tebaweina

    (Gilbert Islands), Afolu i'a sina (Samoa)

    Pomacentridae Damselfish (USA), Maomao (Hawaii), Herbivorous

    Ulavapua, Alala saga, Mutu (Samoa),

    Bakej (Marshall Islands), Tebukibuki

    (Gilbert Islands), Palata (Philippines),

    Sergent-Major (French Polynesia)

    Serranidae Coral Grouper (USA), Gatala (Samoa), Carnivorous

    Rero (Polynesia), Baraka, Kugtung

    (Philippines), Coral Rockcod

    (Australia), Vieille (Seychelles,

    Mauritius, French)

    Siganidae Rabbitfish (English), Poisson Lapin, Herbivorous

    Cordonnier (Mauritius, Reunion,

    French), Aras (Israel)

    Sparidae Saupe (English & French), Salema Herbivorous

    (Spain & Israel)

    Described as

    Fish Families hallucinogenic in

    Acanthuridae Hawaii (8)

    Kyphosidae K. cinerascens and K. vaigiensis

    in Hawaii (8); K. fuscus in

    Norfolk Island (9)

    Mugilidae Hawaii (3)

    Mullidae Both species in

    Hawaii (3,14,18).

    Pomacentridae Gilbert Islands (10)

    Serranidae Gilbert Islands (10)

    Siganidae S. argenteus and S. corallinus in

    Mauritius (19).

    S. luridus in Israel (7, 16).

    S. rivulatus in Mauritius (19)

    and suspected in Israel (5).

    Siganus spinus in Reunion

    island (12)

    Sparidae Tunisia (4), France (11) and

    Israel (5,6).

    • Like 1

  4. Posted

    Are those fertiliser pellets? (even if they are slow release)

    This might also be a problem. Over fertilization, too much of a particular nutrient.

    Acacia's like soils poorer in Nitrogen, generally.

    The "over-watering" would definitely not help either.

    Concider it when re-potting

    Good luck, and plant out as sson as appropriate.

  5. Posted

    oh ed i have just a really inportant questions if i may 1, does this mean dmt can be proccessed from all of these species this is good stuff because it might keep the presher of the more popular acacias

    Sorry for the delayed reply, was gone last week in NSW (graduation/holiday)

    DMT is probably not present in all of this "group" but not all have been fully investigated and characterised. Most do seem to contain simple tryptamines so it could be exviting to see if the less explored ones do.

    Sort of why I placed this 'heads up' in the forum, to see if any more work has been done on it. It also seems like an area where not that much research has been done.

    If a easily propagated Acacia species could be found (species, chemotype or even a hybrid) with a clean source of DMT, it would certainly keep the pressure off of the more vunerable one(s).

  6. Posted

    Isn't the Moraceae often included in the order Urticales?

    I'm sure they are seperate, with cannabis and humulus found in either Moraceae or Urticales (sub family Cannaboideae), or in it's own family Cannabaceae.

    Thanks for the info so far, Since this was an old reference I thought there would be some info out there already.

  7. Posted · Edited by Ed Dunkel

    I'm starting a topic collecting info on tryptamines in the "longifolia family" in Acacia, in the bushfood forum.

    feel free to add info below or there. bushfood

    Here was the list of acacias in the "longifolia group", of Acacia subgenus Phyllodineae:

    The usual suspects A. phlebophylla, maidenii, obtusifolia and sophorae.

    But the rest:

    A.

    alpina

    courtii

    dallachiana

    floribunda

    longissima

    mucronata

    orites

    and the closely related:

    A.

    axillaris

    genistifolia

    (h)omalophylla

    oxycedrus

    rhigiophylla

    riceana

    ventricillata

  8. Posted

    Olmedioperebea sclerophylla (fam. Moraceae)

    This might be an interesting plant as it was mentioned in the conference discussion section of "The Botany and Chemistry of Cannabis - Joyce and Curry, 1970, p 71"* between Mechoulam and Shultes, that this tree was used by natives in the Amazon river area as a psychotomimetic snuff. They proposed that a possible compound related to a cannabinoid might be present.

    Anyone familiar with this specimen or have additional info on it.

    *also reported in "Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs - Schultes, R. E. 1967, p302"

  10. Posted

    Ed- when planting out do it as soon as u possibly can, if possible on a n/e facing slope with granite substrate... I notice u have plant matter at the base, im not sure what the benefits may be but a lot fo the specimens ive seen that have been grown in pots have gravel/granite chunks to simulate their natural environ...

    I plnated the big one yesterday, against a warm fence, sunny location with several handfulls of crushed granite and a pinch of dolomite/trace elements mixed in with it. Slightly raised in the garden bed. I noticed not too many root nodules, but there are several other acacia's several meters on either side which are doing great. (A. maidenii, A. acinacea, A. podalyriifolia) Maybe some nitrogen fixing bacteria will be transfered or is already in the soil (unless a specific one is required for A.phlebophylla).

    I used native potting mix with 1/3 perlite (for drainage) and crushed granite as the soil mix. They seem to like it. On the soil surface is just a thin layer of mulch, to reduce excessive drying. Some of it from around a Acacia verticillata.

    I have heard of using quartz mulch for use in trying to grow Grevilleas and other such plants from dry hot climates in cooler climates. This was done for a garden full of WA natives to great effect at Maranoa park. The quartz reflects a lot of solar radiation (heat, light as well as UV). It can be quite glarry walking around but the plants lap it up.

    maranoa_3.jpg

  11. Posted

    These are mine, they look quite the same.

    Thanks again Torsten for those old leftover research stock, possibly mixed with A. maidenii, seeds. These three came up and are doing fine, I'm planting them out this autumn. Hope they reach seeding maturity down in Melbourne.

    normal_Acacia%20phlebophylla.JPG

  12. Posted · Edited by Ed Dunkel

    I have mine against a warm, sunny wall right now, I'm just worried what it will do this winter. I intend to plant it out. Should I keep it potted and transplant in winter?

    Here is a piccie of it:

    normal_Duboisia%20myoporoides.JPG

    I never managed to germinate the seeds from the Melb RBG. If you don't want them, I could try. I think they need hot humid weather (unless one has a greenhouse with misting :()

  14. Posted

    I have about 20 boab seeds to anyone that wants them. they are of unknown viability, sourced in central QLD on wednesday 1st march 06. First in best dressed. They come off a small leafed boab - I dont know the botanical name,,,

    PM me if interested.

    Adansonia gregorii maybe- (although their distribution is more Kimberly area)

    Try and post it on (http://www.guruna.com/forum/)

  16. Posted · Edited by Ed Dunkel

    Congrats!!!

    I have two that look like that and one that has displayed the more classic broad phylloids. There should be a gland just near base of the phylloid, on the top side. It gets this drop of sweet liquid in the mornings!!!

    (I should note that the seed was left over 'Torsten' research stuff, so my two could be the maidenii's :wink: ;))

  17. Posted

    I dont understand the recalcitrance in accepting acacias can be propagated by cuttings :huh:

    They can be and are

    and its published in several publications that they are

    Several cultivars in horticulture are grown this way - prostrate and variegated forms

    Sure, Acacia leprosa - Scarlet Blaze definitely is. You won't get that red colour to come back easily from its seeds.

  20. Posted · Edited by Ed Dunkel

    Growing seedlings outside will still require particular sun/shade, humidity, wind protection conditions to make them work, probably just as well as the indoor example. However, it can be a little harder controlling those conditions outside.

    I had little trouble with germinating and growing A. maidenii outdoors (I do nearly all my propagating outdoors). They just need a little protection from direct midday sun, harsh hot wind in their earlier days, but harden up quite well once they get there first couple of adult leaves.

    They grow like weeds once planted out!!!!

    Bringing them from indoors to outdoors also needs a little care (even if it is a well established plant indoors). Slow adaption to the different light and environmental conditions. Move from a protected positions to it's suited position. I have watched cacti burn/bleach and shrivel, only to be growing strong now (with scars!!)

    Good luck with the project, try and match the outdoor conditions with the indoor ones and see what happens. Keep shooting piccies :)

    Interesting name "Eikel", anything to do with an acorn, or the resemblence the shape of an acorn has with something :wink:

  21. Posted · Edited by Ed Dunkel

    name='black' date='Jan 18 2006, 12:33 PM' post='80978']can i please get a copy ed

    Nope, none left (only my own copy), sorry :innocent_n:

    Maybe Torsten can set up a library through his research station ;) Books could be shared.

    with that book Ed, how accurate do you think it still is?

    I would think it is generally quite ok but I have noticed some inconsistencies in regards to recent work. But then that is to be expected from older research. It's always best to check several sources.

    But I like the way it lists the plants out and the nummerous entries.

  25. Posted · Edited by Ed Dunkel

    Yes, I have two books up for grabs.

    I have one copy of both:

    -> Lloydia- The Journal of Natural Products - "Alkaloid-Bearing Plants and their Contained Alkaloids (1957-1968) J.J Willaman and Hui-Lin Li. Vol. No. 33, 3A, 1-286 Sept. 1970

    From mosses, fungi to the higher plants and their alkaloid content. Index of alkaloids!!!

    (I have traded one of these some time ago - 2-3 years ago-)

    -> The Mushroom Cultivator - Paul Stamets and J.S. Chilton.

    (This book details the cultivation of 16 edible (including the Button/Portobello mushrooms) and psychoactive species and control measures for 40 genera of contaminants. 415 pages, with 249 black and white photographs, diagrams and scanning electron micrographs, this book is highly reviewed and used throughout the world as a mycological textbook. Known throughout the world as "The Grower's Bible." Softcover. As Doctor Alexander Smith once said, "This book should be in every mycological laboratory.)

    mcul.jpg

    PM / email me for any trades. Maybe an entheogen dvd from inpsyght ;)

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