Abstract

The fish in the order Scorpaeniformes posses potent venoms that cause neuromuscular and cardiovascular symptoms through the activation of sodium channels, calcium influx into cells, and the release and depletion of acetylcholine from presynaptic neurons. Although these venom compounds have the potential to mimic ciguatoxin in detection bioassays, thus disrupting our ability to accurately test for ciguatera in venomous species, they are harmless to fish consumers. While it is know that the venom is present in the spines, no research has sought investigated if venom proteins exist elsewhere in the fish. Proteins were extracted from the spine, skin, muscle and liver tissues of fish using four buffers used by previous studies to extract ciguatoxin samples: phosphate-buffered saline, 70% methanol, 100% methanol and 100% acetone. Western blotting with stonefish antivenom was used to detect the presence of venom proteins in tissues from invasive Pterois volitans. Venom proteins were most highly expressed in the spines of the venomous Scorpaeniform species, with decreased but detectable expression in skin and muscle tissues. These proteins were detected strongly in both the saline and 70% methanol extracts, suggesting the possibility that these proteins or other venom compounds contaminate ciguatoxin tests. The next step of this research, clarifying the affect of venom toxins on ciguatera bioassays, will increase the accuracy of ciguatera detection in Scorpaeniform species, potentially expanding the fishery for invasive lionfishes as well as other commercially relevant Scorpaeniformes.

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