A rapid, simplified enzyme immunoassay stick test for the detection of ciguatoxin and related polyethers from fish tissues.

A simplified and rapid enzyme immunoassay stick test is presented in this study. The salient feature of this test is the use of a coating (Liquid Paper) on the stick to adsorb the lipid ciguatoxin and its related polyether toxins onto the stick. This rapid solid phase stick test has been able to differentiate clinically implicated fishes (14 samples) from non-toxic (60 samples) with P less than 0.005. Comparison of the stick test with the enzyme immunoassay procedure with the positive fish samples demonstrated a good correlation. All samples were positive by both procedures. Further comparison of the stick test, enzyme immunoassay and the mouse bioassay with unknown fish samples showed good relationships between the three procedures. Examination of 71 Seriola dumerili, a fish generally implicated in ciguatera poisoning, with the stick test procedure showed that 89% of the fishes were non-toxic and thus consumed without any incidence of ciguatera poisoning. Analysis of graded concentrations of ciguatoxin, in ng/ml of methanol, showed a typical immunological precipitation pattern. The stick test as conceived is simple and rapid, while retaining its sensitivity and specificity to detect ng levels of ciguatoxin and its related polyether toxins. It is suggested that the stick test will be valuable in the screening of ciguatoxin and related polyether toxins in contaminated fish tissues.