Fish die-offs are important signals in tropical marine ecosystems. In 2010, a mass mortality of pufferfish in Hawaii (USA) was dominated by Arothron hispidus showing aberrant neurological behaviors. Using pathology, toxinology, and field surveys, we implicated a series of novel, polar, marine toxins as a likely cause of this mass mortality. Our findings are striking in that (1) a marine toxin was associated with a kill of a fish species that is itself toxic; (2) we provide a plausible mechanism to explain clinical signs of affected fish; and (3) this epizootic likely depleted puffer populations. Whilst our data are compelling, we did not synthesize the toxin de novo, and we were unable to categorically prove that the polar toxins caused mortality or that they were metabolites of an undefined parent compound. However, our approach does provide a template for marine fish kill investigations associated with marine toxins and inherent limitations of existing methods. Our study also highlights the need for more rapid and cost-effective tools to identify new marine toxins, particularly small, highly polar molecules.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Title | Pufferfish mortality associated with novel polar marine toxins in Hawaii |
| DOI | 10.3354/dao03096 |
| Authors | Thierry M. Work, Perer D. R. Moeller, Kevin R. Beauchesne, Julie Dagenais, Renee Breeden, Robert Rameyer, Willliam A. Walsh, Melanie Abecassis, Donald R. Kobayashi, Carla M. Conway, James Winton |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Diseases of Aquatic Organisms |
| Index ID | 70185295 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | National Wildlife Health Center; Western Fisheries Research Center |
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Thierry M Work
Wildlife Disease Specialist
Renee Breeden
Biological Laboratory Technician
Robert Rameyer
Biological Laboratory Technician
Carla M Conway
Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Microbiology)
James Winton, Ph.D.
Research Microbiologist, Emeritus
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- Data
Pufferfish mortality data
In 2010, a mass mortality of pufferfish in Hawaii was dominated by Arothron hispidus showing aberrant neurological behaviors. Using pathology, toxinology, and field surveys, we implicated a series of novel, polar, marine toxins as a likely cause of this mass mortality. Our findings are striking in that 1) a marine toxin was associated with a kill of a fish species that is, itself, toxic; 2) we - Connect
Thierry M Work
Wildlife Disease SpecialistEmailPhoneRenee Breeden
Biological Laboratory TechnicianEmailPhoneRobert Rameyer
Biological Laboratory TechnicianEmailPhoneCarla M Conway
Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Microbiology)EmailPhoneJames Winton, Ph.D.
Research Microbiologist, EmeritusEmailPhone