ABSTRACT
Background@#Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is a disease caused by the ingestion of poisonous coral reef fish. To the best of the author’s knowledge, no attempt has so far been made to consolidate available reports of outbreaks in order to characterize the toxidrome of CFP in the Philippines. @*Objective@#To review and consolidate data from epidemiologically-documented CFP outbreaks in order to characterize the toxidrome of CFP in the Philippines and identify the areas of high risk for outbreaks.@*Methods@#Epidemiologic reports of CFP outbreaks in the Philippines were reviewed. A compilation of symptoms of CFP patients was done to describe the toxidrome. High risk areas in the Philippines were identified.@*Results@#Ten reports were retrieved related to 17 CFP outbreaks from 1988 to 2010. No epidemiologic reports were found after 2010. Consolidation of reported symptoms showed a CFP toxidrome with prominent paresthesia, muscle weakness, and myalgia with some gastrointestinal symptoms. Based on the reports, the high risk islands identified were Palawan, Panay, Romblon, the islands in the Cuyo Pass, and Basilan. Cases of CFP continue to be encountered but are not reported to public health epidemiologists.@*Conclusion@#When put together, the reports describe a CFP toxidrome where the neurologic symptoms predominate over the gastrointestinal symptoms. Most of the cases occurred in the west central and southern portion of the archipelago suggesting a higher risk for CFP in that area. Cases of what appear to be CFP continue to be diagnosed although they are not reported to government epidemiology units. More systematic surveillance of CFP by government agencies is needed.
Subject(s)
Ciguatera Poisoning , PhilippinesABSTRACT
Reef fish assemblages in the Caribbean are under increasing pressure from human activities. Inadequate enforcement of legislation coupled with unreliable and data-poor landings in Tobago have led to the unregulated exploitation of reef fish for decades. This study addresses the lack of data on major reefs. Visual observations of fish fauna were conducted from November 2011-May 2013 at open access reef sites (Speyside, Charlotteville, Culloden, Arnos Vale, Mt. Irvine, La Guira, Kilgwyn, Plymouth and Black Rock) and one protected area (Buccoo Reef Marine Park). Belt transects surveys were used to determine fish density, species diversity and abundance at the 10-15m depth contour. Fish sizes were converted to biomass using the length-weight relationship of fish W=aLb. Most fish assemblages were dominated by small herbivores (<15cm), in particular Pomacentridae and Scaridae. Few large predators (>40cm) e.g. Serranidae, were noted, which is indicative of fishing pressure. MDS ordination identified three fish assemblages: i) northeastern, ii) southwestern and iii) intermediate. The northwestern cluster (Speyside and Charlotteville) were most representative of reef fish assemblages across the entire island, and exhibited the highest species richness, diversity and biomass. However, the southwestern cluster the highest numerical abundance. The marine protected area contained higher fish biomass, abundance, diversity and richness, but it was only representative of reef fish assemblages on the southwest of the island and not the entire Tobago. Research on the reef fishery, particularly spear fishing, is recommended to determine impact.
Los ensamblajes de peces de arrecife en el Caribe están bajo una creciente presión de las actividades humanas. La ejecución inadecuada de la legislación, junto con los desembarques poco fiables y con escasez de datos en Tobago han llevado a una explotación sin reglas durante décadas. Este estudio aborda la falta de datos sobre las comunidades de peces de arrecife en los principales arrecifes. Las observaciones visuales se llevaron a cabo desde noviembre 2011 hasta mayo 2013 en sitios de acceso a los arrecifes abiertos (Speyside, Charlotteville, Culloden, Arnos Vale, el monte Irvine, La Guira, Kilgwyn, Plymouth y Negro Rock) y un área protegida (El parque Buccoo Marine Reef). Se utilizaron encuestas para determinar la densidad de peces, la diversidad y abundancia de especies a 10-15m de profundidad del contorno. El tamaño de los peces se convirtió a biomasa utilizando la relación talla- peso de los peces W=aLb. La mayoría de las comunidades de peces son dominadas por pequeños herbívoros (<15cm), en particular Pomacentridae y Scaridae. Pocos depredadores grandes (>40cm), por ejemplo Serranidae, se observó, lo que es indicativo de la presión de pesca. El análisis de escala multidimensional identificó tres conjuntos distintos de peces indicados como i) del noreste, ii) al suroeste y iii) grupos intermedios. El grupo del noroeste (Speyside y Charlotteville ) es más representativo de comunidades de peces de arrecife en toda la isla, y mostró la mayor riqueza de especies, diversidad y biomasa. Sin embargo, se observó la abundancia más alta de peces en el grupo del suroeste. El área marina protegida contenia mayor biomasa, abundancia, diversidad y riqueza de peces, pero era el único representante de las asociaciones de peces arrecifales en el suroeste de la isla y no de todo Tobago. Se recomienda determinar los impactos de la pesca en los arrecifes, particularmente con el uso de arpón.
Subject(s)
Fishing Industry , Coral Reefs , Fishes , Ecosystem , Caribbean Region , Food ChainABSTRACT
Many coral reef fish exhibit habitat partitioning throughout their lifetimes. Such patterns are evident in the Caribbean where research has been predominantly conducted in the Eastern region. This work addressed the paucity of data regarding Honduran reef fish distribution in three habitat types (seagrass, mangroves, and coral reefs), by surveying fish on the islands of Utila and Cayos Cochinos off the coast of Honduras (part of the Mesoamerican barrier reef). During July 2nd - Aug 27th 2007 and June 22nd - Aug 17th, 2008, visual surveys (SCUBA and snorkel) were performed in belt transects in different areas: eleven coral reef, six seagrass beds, and six mangroves sites. Juvenile densities and total habitat surface area were used to calculate nursery value of seagrass and mangroves. A total of 113 fish species from 32 families were found during underwater surveys. Multi-dimensional analyses revealed distinct clusters of fish communities in each habitat type by separating fish associated with seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs. Coral reefs showed the highest mean fish species richness and were dominated by adult fish, while juvenile fish characterized seagrass beds and mangrove sites. Habitat use differed widely at the fish species level. Scarus iseri (Striped Parrotfish), the most abundant fish in this study, were found in all three habitat types, while Lutjanus apodus (Schoolmaster Snapper) juveniles were located primarily in mangroves before migrating to coral reefs. Many species used seagrass beds and mangroves as nurseries; however, the nursery value could not be generalized at the family level. Furthermore, for some fish species, nursery value varied between islands and sites. Our results suggest that connectivity of seagrass, mangrove, and coral reef sites at a species and site levels, should be taken into consideration when implementing policy and conservation practices. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (2): 683-698. Epub 2012 June 01.
Muchos peces de arrecifes de coral estan sometidos a la fragmentación del habitat a lo largo de su vida. Estos patrones son evidentes en el Caribe donde la investigación se llevó a cabo, principalmente en la región este. La motivación para la realización de este trabajo fue la escasez de datos sobre la distribución de peces de arrecife de Honduras en tres tipos de hábitat (pastos marinos, manglares y arrecifes de coral), por lo que se realizaron censos de peces en las islas de Utila y Cayos Cochinos en la costa de Honduras (parte del Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano). Del 2 de Julio al 27 de agosto 2007 y del 22 de junio al 17 agosto 2008, se realizaron censos visuales (buceo y snorkel) en transectos de diferente área: 11 en arrecifes de coral, 6 en praderas de pastos marinos y 6 en manglares. La densidad de jóvenes y el área total de la superficie del hábitat se utilizaron para calcular el valor de la zona de crianza de pastos marinos y manglares. Un total de 113 especies de peces de 32 familias fueron encontrados durante los censos. Análisis Multi-dimensionales reveló distintos grupos de comunidades de peces en cada tipo de hábitat por la separación de los peces asociados a los lechos de pastos marinos, manglares y arrecifes de coral. Los arrecifes de coral presentaron el mayor promedio de riqueza de especies de peces y fueron dominados por peces adultos, mientras que los jóvenes se caracterizaron por encontrarse en praderas de pastos marinos y zonas de manglares. El uso del hábitat difiere ampliamente a nivel de especies de peces. Scarus iseri (loro rayado), el pez más abundante en este estudio, se encontró en los tres tipos de hábitats, mientras que Lutjanus apodus, los jóvenes, se encontraron principalmente en los manglares antes de emigrar a los arrecifes de coral. Muchas especies utilizan las praderas marinas y los manglares como criaderos, sin embargo, el valor de criadero no puede ser generalizado a nivel familiar. Además, para algunas especies de peces, el valor de criadero varió entre las islas y los sitios. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la conectividad de los pastos marinos, manglares y arrecifes de coral a nivel de especies y sitios, debe ser tomado en cuenta para la aplicación de políticas y prácticas de conservación.