Palytoxin

[Tomoko Schum]

Hi y'all,

Here's another way to get yourself envenomed with zoa!

Take a look at this thread that fishdoc11 (ETRC) dug up:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1083843

I know that a number of you guys keep zoanthids and palythoa and many of you already know about the danger of palytoxin. However, I did not know that this toxin can vaporize when you pour hot water on zoanthids and palythoa to kill them (you know the ugly brown ones.)

Wear your Personal Protective Devices: surgical gloves, goggles and a mask now. And don't try to remove your surgical gloves in a hurry by holding onto a corner of it with your teeth like Anthony Calfo did :eek2:

Tomoko

 

[kraftyforu]

yea but not all of them have the same affect. some can kill you in a matter of min. other over a longer period of time. and some can just give you a rash or watery eyes or even just a headache.

 

[kraftyforu]

even with that though they should all be handled with care

 

[JimW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9599245#post9599245 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kraftyforu
and some can just give you a rash or watery eyes or even just a headache.

I "just" don't think any of these would be enjoyable!


Jim

 

[kraftyforu]

lol ive gottin the rash and headache before. not to fun but then i think about what could have happened

 

[DrHank]

Tomoko, Thanks! I appreciate your concern for your fellow reef enthusiasts. I felt that the link warranted posting (and I did so) down here in the Florida Panhandle forum.

This is something that I'm willing to bet 98%+ of doctors don't know about. Exposure which might bring on a rash or headache for most can cause shock and possibly death for an individual who is allergic to Palytoxin.

Kudos!

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Thank you, DrHank.

This type of accident can be easily prevented if we all follow a very simple safety procedure.

Tomoko

 

[Philip Root]

Zoas have some bad toxins, but this guy more than likely was not exposed to Palytoxin, Palytoxin is not some thing that takes hours to effect you "death follows in minuntes" . Intraperitoneal LD50 in mice is <100 ng/kg ( That being said there is not one case of someone dieding from Palytoxin in the US.)

Also I belive that Palythoa toxica has the palytoxin. And only from small location in Hawaiian waters. ( wich corals are not collected from )

However the toxin is thought to be made by a dinoflagellate called Ostreopis siamensis. Not by the Palythoa. So it may be fond in other corals as well.

There is lots of nasty stuff in zoa's. Just becasue it is not palytoxin dose not mean you should be careless. I have had several bad run ins with zoa's and there toxins. Incluing my eye, and I belive apsorbed through my skin. I have handled many different palys, and have had a metal taste in my mouth after handling. You must be careful. I have seen several people use wet saws to cut zoa rocks. That is not a good idea. Gloves and glasses are very important.