What does «ciguatera» mean in Spanish?
- Poisoning caused by contaminated shellfish and fish. It is also called ciguatera. Ciguatera is an accumulation of a toxic substance in the muscle and internal organs of certain tropical and subtropical fish. When man eats these contaminated fish, he is said to have ciguatera poisoning. The toxin is generated by dinoflagellates (unicellular microorganisms that form phytoplankton) associated with coral reefs. The risk zone is from 35° north to 35° south, especially in the islands of the South Pacific, West Indies and the Caribbean Sea.
♦ Used in: Mexico