Number 7 Poisoning in Japan In 2015, a case of poisoning made news across
Japan. Five men, in their 40s and 50s, were sent to the hospital, after eating the deadly
pufferfish. According to news reports, the men were having dinner in the city of Wakayama
and asked the chef to cook them the fish’s liver. This body part is banned in the country
because of its high toxicity. The next morning they started vomiting and suffering from breathing
difficulties. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported. The restaurant was closed for several
days while an investigation was launched. It’s still unclear what species of pufferfish
the men had consumed. Figures from the Japanese government indicate that eating the national
delicacy results in 30 to 50 cases of hospitalization every year, some of which result in death.
What Is It? The Tetraodontidae family contains over 200
species of fish commonly known as a pufferfish. Their name is derived from a rather unique
brand of defensive behavior. When feeling threatened, this creature will fill its stomach,
which is extremely elastic, with water or air. It thus becomes much larger in size and
almost spherical in shape. Additionally, all species are covered in spines that prick up
as they become inflated. Predators targeting the fish are therefore faced with a spiky
ball rather than easy prey. Worse still, they might swallow the pufferfish right as it starts
to inflate and die from choking. This defensive mechanism compensates for the pufferfish’s
locomotion. Although highly maneuverable, as it moves by a combination of pectoral,
dorsal, anal and caudal fins, this creature is very slow. Even if a predator does get
past its defenses, the pufferfish is still a potentially lethal choice of prey. That’s
because its body contains a potent neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin.
Number 6 Strange Dolphin Behavior Not all creatures are deterred by the deadly
pufferfish. While most predators will readily spit them out, dolphins have been observed
purposefully using the fish to get intoxicated. It’s actually believed to give them a trance-like
state. This behavior was captured by a BBC documentary entitled “Dolphin: Spy in the
Pod”. The cetaceans will gently chew on a pufferfish which is passed around between
them. Afterwards, the dolphins are reported exhibiting strange behavior. They’ll hang
around with their noses at the surface or become mesmerized by their own reflection.
It seems that the dolphins know how much contact with the fish is needed to get the desired
effect from the toxins it releases. Still, it’s a dangerous activity, since pufferfish
toxin is incredibly deadly to most species that tamper with it.
Where Is It Located? The greatest abundance and diversity of pufferfish
is found in the tropics. It’s absent in cold waters and rather uncommon in temperate
regions. Even though the fish mostly inhabits brackish marine environments, there are a
number of species that spend their entire life cycles in freshwater systems. They can
be found in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America. Pufferfish mainly feed on algae and
small invertebrates. Even though they prefer an omnivorous diet, these creatures can survive
as vegetarians if an environment is lacking in resources. Pufferfish are sometimes compared
to the terrestrial chameleon. They have excellent eyesight and can move their eyes independently.
They can also change their color and the intensity of their patterns in response to environmental
changes. Number 5 Kai Plumley
Most cases of humans being hurt by the pufferfish have to do with intoxication, but this one
is rather different. In 2014, Kai Plumley and his parents were swimming off of Olowalu
Beach in Maui. At some point during their day out, a 16-inch grey pufferfish sunk its
teeth into 4-year-old Kai’s leg. The child started screaming in pain so his father, Josh,
rushed to his aid. The man struck the fish a few times but the creature’s hold was
still strong. He was forced to grab the pufferfish by the face and mouth so that he could rip
it off his son’s leg. As Kai and his father were returning to shore, the pufferfish went
straight for the surfboard that the boy’s mother was resting on. It started biting at
the board, but the woman wasn’t hurt. Neither was Kai, in the end, as he’d only sustained
a shallow wound on his leg. The attack baffled experts since the species, identified as a
striped belly pufferfish, is never known to be aggressive.
Number 4 Cambodian Teen Attack It’s definitely rare for pufferfish to go
after humans, especially with such brutality as in this next case. The incident involved
a Cambodian teen and an enraged fish. The creature had accidentally got caught in the
unnamed 13-year-old’s fishing net. Upon being freed, the pufferfish bit him directly
in the groin. A Cambodian news outlet ran a photo of the teen lying on a hospital bed
with heavy strapping around his scrotum. The caption read that he was lucky to be alive.
Judging by the extent of the damage, doctors believed that the teen, from a commune outside
Phnom Penh, would make a full recovery. It isn’t known what pufferfish species had
attacked him. Interestingly enough, the Mekong River Basin is home to Pao turgidus, a dangerous
freshwater pufferfish. Poisonings from this species are common in Cambodia and sometimes
result in death. Its principal toxin, which mainly accumulates in the skin, is called
saxitoxin. It’s mainly acquired through food and different from tetrodotoxin, found
in marine species, which is toxic to the Mekong fish.
How Will It Kill You? By far the scariest aspect about pufferfish
is their incredibly potent tetrodotoxin. It’s mainly found in the fish’s liver and ovaries,
with a smaller amount in the skin and intestines as well as traces in the muscles. It’s not
actually produced by the pufferfish but from bacteria that live in its body, often in a
symbiotic relationship. Tetrodotoxin is one of the deadliest compounds found in the animal
kingdom and it’s about 1,200 times more toxic than cyanide. A single pufferfish may
contain enough of it to kill over 30 adult humans. The neurotoxin is known for blocking
sodium channels in nerve cells. It basically prevents the nervous system from sending messages
that result in muscle contraction. Since it’s considered a delicacy, the most common way
that people become intoxicated is by ingesting pufferfish meat. Poisoning symptoms will typically
occur within 30 minutes. They may involve tingling in the lips and tongue, followed
by nausea, headaches and vomiting. Respiratory distress may occur and paralysis gradually
sets in. Although completely immobile, the victim may be entirely lucid right up until
their final moments. The toxin ultimately paralyzes the diaphragm which causes death
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there. Number 3 Dangerous Delicacy
Even though it’s highly toxic, pufferfish meat is considered a delicacy in Japan, Korea
and China. In Japan, the dish is called Fugu and it can be served as sashimi or chiri,
a type of pufferfish soup. Fugu is among the most notorious and celebrated dishes in Japanese
culture. Restaurant preparation of the fish is strictly regulated in the country. Serving
the liver of the pufferfish, which is the most toxic part, has been banned in Japan
since 1984. Chefs train for up to three years before they’re allowed to prepare Fugu.
Selection is rigorous and only about a third of all applicants end up passing the licensing
examination process. By the end of their training, the chefs know which part of the fish is safe
and in which quantity. Even the knife used for cutting the fish is stored separately
from other kitchen utensils, to minimize the risk of contamination. The poison of the pufferfish
is actually a major part of its appeal. Skilled chefs leave just the right amount to produce
a tingling in the lips and a light-headed sensation without endangering the consumer’s
life. Still, it’s a dangerous delicacy and ordering it has been compared to playing the
restaurant version of Russian roulette. Number 2 Souza Family
While most people who consume pufferfish are aware of the risks, that wasn’t the case
for the Souza family, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In October of 2014, they’d received
the fish as a gift from friends who’d been on a fishing expedition. None of them knew
of the dangers associated with eating it. The cooked fish looked very appealing so the
whole family was called over to enjoy it together. The meal turned into a living nightmare for
eleven family members. Shortly after taking the first bites, 41-year-old Jose Augusto
Souza could no longer feel his tongue and then his face. As the poison took hold, he
could no longer get up from his seat. Many of the victims, including children aged 3
to 5, became paralyzed before they could even reach a vehicle and be taken to the hospital.
Three family members experienced severe symptoms such as respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.
After a grueling few days, everybody recovered from what had been a very close call.
How to Survive? The safest course of action is to avoid eating
the fish entirely. Yet, if culinary curiosity prevails, you shouldn’t prepare it at home,
in lack of proper training. Tetrodotoxin has no antidote so treatment is mainly supportive.
This involves the immediate management of airways and feeding the victim activated charcoal
to bind the toxin. Intravenous fluids are administered to combat hypotension while alpha
adrenergic agonists are recommended for the stimulation of nerve receptors. Standard life-support
measures are applied until the poison’s effects wear off. Yet, even if they survive
the first 24 hours, patients might spend several days in the coma.
Number 1 Florida Man Incident One Florida man learned that mixing cocaine
and tetrodotoxin is a recipe for disaster. The unnamed man and his grandmother both ate
pufferfish liver, presumably unaware if its potentially lethal effects. The woman felt
ill but eventually made a full recovery. Her nephew, on the other hand, had reportedly
gone on a cocaine bender three days prior to eating the fish. The added tetrodotoxin
pushed his organs over the limit. Several hours after eating the fish he struggled to
walk and even speak. He couldn’t stop vomiting and was suffering from stomach pain. The man
arrived at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center with extremely high blood pressure, which
doctors initially believed had been a consequence of the drugs. As the toxin gripped his body,
the man’s kidney failed and never recovered. He would regain his muscle strength and his
confusion cleared up, but would have to spend the rest of his life on dialysis.
Thanks for watching! Would you rather suffer from tetrodotoxin poisoning or be locked in
a room with a swarm of Asian giant hornets? Let us know in the comments section below!