Two Cases of Neurotoxin Tetramine Poisoning Following Ingestion of Buccinum Striatissinum

물레고동 섭취 후 발생한 테트라민 중독 2례

  • Kim, So Eun (Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical School, Chonbuk National University) ;
  • Lee, Jae Baek (Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical School, Chonbuk National University) ;
  • Jin, Young Ho (Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical School, Chonbuk National University) ;
  • Yoon, Jae Chol (Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical School, Chonbuk National University) ;
  • Jo, Si On (Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical School, Chonbuk National University) ;
  • Lee, Jeong Moon (Trauma Team, Chonbuk National University Hosptial) ;
  • Jeong, Tae Oh (Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical School, Chonbuk National University)
  • 김소은 (전북대학교 의학전문대학원 응급의학교실) ;
  • 이재백 (전북대학교 의학전문대학원 응급의학교실) ;
  • 진영호 (전북대학교 의학전문대학원 응급의학교실) ;
  • 윤재철 (전북대학교 의학전문대학원 응급의학교실) ;
  • 조시온 (전북대학교 의학전문대학원 응급의학교실) ;
  • 이정문 (전북대학교병원 외상팀) ;
  • 정태오 (전북대학교 의학전문대학원 응급의학교실)
  • Received : 2016.05.20
  • Accepted : 2016.06.05
  • Published : 2016.06.30

Abstract

Some carnivorous gastropods have heat stable tetramine toxins in their salivary glands. This toxin is an autonomic ganglionic blocking agent that enables them to catch the prey easily by paralyzing their targets. Acute tetramine toxin poisoning in humans from eating whelks has been well described based on numerous cases, but is rare in Korea. Symptoms of tetramine poisoning include eyeball pain, blurred vision, headache, dizziness, muscular twitching, tingling of hands and feet, weakness, paralysis and sometimes collapse. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting can also occur. However, intoxication is self-limiting and patients will usually recover in about 24 hours. Herein, we report 2 cases of tetramine poisoning after ingestion of Buccinum striatissinum as meat and soup.

Keywords

References

  1. Asano M, Itoh M. Salivary poison of a marine gastropod, Neptunea arthritica Bernardi, and the seasonal variation of its toxicity. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1960;90:674-88.
  2. Fleming C. Case of poisoning from red whelk. Br Med J 1971;3:520-1. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.3.5773.520
  3. Ayres P, Wood P. Toxins in the red whelk. Mar Pollut Bull 1973;4:157-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/0025-326X(73)90255-5
  4. Reid TM, Gould IM, Mackie IM, Ritchie AH, Hobbs G. Food poisoning due to the consumption of red whelks (Neptunea antiqua). Epidemiol Infect 1988;101:419-23. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268800054376
  5. Kim JM, Yang YS, Jeong DS, Yang KI, Park HK, Nam SW, et al. A Case of Tetramine Intoxication from the Neptunea. J Korean Neurol Assoc DE 2005;23:405-7.
  6. Mok JS, Son KT, Lee TS, Oh EG, Hwang HJ, Kim JH. Tetramine Contents of Sea Snails from the Korean Coast. Korean J Fish Aquat Sci 2007;40:63-7.
  7. Kim JH, Lee KJ, Suzuki T, Kim CM, Lee JY, Mok JS, et al. Identification of tetramine, a toxin in whelks, as the cause of a poisoning incident in Korea and the distribution of tetramine in fresh and boiled whelk (Neptunea intersculpta). J Food Prot 2009;72:1935-40. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X-72.9.1935
  8. Anthoni U, Bohlin L, Larsen C, Nielsen P, Nielsen NH, Christophersen C. Tetramine: occurrence in marine organisms and pharmacology. Toxicon 1989;27:707-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/0041-0101(89)90037-8
  9. Barrueto F, Jr., Furdyna PM, Hoffman RS, Hoffman RJ, Nelson LS. Status epilepticus from an illegally imported Chinese rodenticide: "tetramine". J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2003;41:991-4. https://doi.org/10.1081/CLT-120026523
  10. Jeon JK. Tetramine contents of buccinidae in the Korean waters. Korean J Fish Aquat Sci 1990;23:61-2.
  11. Asano M. Studies of the toxic substances contained in marine animals I. Locality of the poison of Neptunea (Barbitonia) arthritica Bernardi. Bull Jpn Soc Sci Fish 1952;17:73-7. https://doi.org/10.2331/suisan.17.8-9_73
  12. Asano M, Ito M. Occurrence of tetramine and choline compounds in the salivary gland of a marine gastropod, Neptunea arthritica Bernardi. Tohoku J Agric Res 1959;10:209-27.
  13. Power AJ, Keegan BF, Nolan K. The seasonality and role of the neurotoxin tetramine in the salivary glands of the red whelk Neptunea antiqua (L.). Toxicon 2002;40:419-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0041-0101(01)00211-2
  14. Clay AS, Hainline BE. Hyperammonemia in the ICU. Chest 2007;132:1368-78. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.06-2940