A human intoxication caused by ingestion of tropical piscivorous reef fishes tainted with toxin-producing benthic/epiphytic dinoflagellates. These fish accumulate biotoxins through the food chain (Steidinger, 1993). More than 175 separate gastrointestinal, neurotoxic, or cardiovascular symptoms may be associated with this poisoning (Becker and Sanders, 1991). In extreme cases death can result from respiratory failure. Although incidence is high, human mortality is low (Hallegraeff, 1995).

Ciguatoxins:
CTX-1, CTX-2, CTX-3
gambiertoxins (GTX)
maitotoxins (MTX)