Question: A 45-year-old man recently installed a large aquarium in his home and populated it with various accessories and a wide variety of tropical fish. Upon start up of the aquarium, this man developed rhinorrhea, eye irritation, non-productive persistent cough, myalgias, nausea, muscle weakness and ataxia. He presented to the emergency department and was admitted to the hospital. It was eventually determined that his symptoms were related to the corals he placed in his new aquarium. What is the likely putative toxin involved?
Answer: The likely putative toxin involved in the above case is palytoxin from the so-called soft coral used in the home aquarium. According to the cited reference “Palytoxin, one of the most potent marine toxins, and/or its analogs, have been identified in different marine organisms such as Palythoa soft corals. Although the maim concern for human health is palytoxins entrance in the human food chain, there is growing evidence of adverse effects associated with inhalational, cutaneous and/or ocular exposure to aquarium soft corals contaminated by palytoxins or aquaria waters.” (Pelin M et al. Palytoxin-containing aquarium soft corals as an emerging sanitary problem. 2016 Marine Drugs 14: 33-55)