toxic zoos!

[tab]

Here is a story from reefcentral, it pretty crazy. We have a whole bunch of zoos and would have never known.


Zoanthids are they toxic?
Zoanthids are they toxic? I have to say YES! Yesterday I was getting ready for the Ohio frag swap. I was working over a rubbermade tub and my dog was sitting next to me as she always did. I got up to get some more gumbands to close the bags and when I returned she had her head in the tub. I thought nothing about it. Dogs always stick their heads in things. 12:30

I went to the frag swap and was having a really good time. An I got a call on my cell phone. My wife called to tell me that the dog was sick. 2:00

I hung around for a bit after I talked to my wife. Dogs get sick all of the time (right)?

She called again told me to come home. 3:00

I came home and the dog greeted me at the door but she was very lethargic. My wife told me to take the dog to the vet. 4:30

I took her to the vet. At this point I had to carry her from my truck. I talked to the vet and I had no idea of what could be the problem. He ran some tests on her blood and from the tests he said that it looked like she had ingested some sort of toxin. A bell went off in my head!! She had her head in my tub.

I got on my cell and had a friend do some searches about Zoanthids. We found Zoanthids carry one of the most powerful toxins in the world. The toxin is called Palytoxin. I read the symptoms and wow a direct match. Did a search for a cure only to find out that there is no antitoxin.

My dog passed away at 12:15am.

I normaly would not post any thing like this or make a post this long but I wanted everyone to know that Zoanthids are very toxic. Watch when your children and pets around your tanks. I am including a list of links to the research that we did last night. I knew that there are Zoanthids were toxic but not to this level.

http://www.asanltr.com/newsletter/0...Neurotoxins.htm

http://www.cbwinfo.com/Biological/Toxins/Palytoxin.html

[z28pwr]

Straight from WikiPedia:

Zoanthids contain the highly toxic substance palytoxin. Palytoxin is one of the most toxic organic substances in the world, but there is an ongoing debate over the concentration of this toxin in these animals. However, even in small quantities, the toxin can be fatal should it be ingested or enter the blood stream. If delivered immediately, vasodilators injected into the ventricle of the heart can act as an antidote.[1]

In order for this toxin to be dangerous to humans, the average aquarist would need to ingest the zoanthid in sufficient quantities. Average handling, propogation and aquarium maintenance is unlikely to pose any danger beyond a localized skin reaction.



Palytoxin is an incredibly complex marine natural product containing 71 stereochemical elements. Palytoxin, isolated from soft coral, is considered to be one of the most toxic non-peptide substances known, second only to Maitotoxin. Professor Yo****o Kishi's group at Harvard University first synthesized palytoxin in 1994. This feat is still considered today by many to be the greatest synthetic accomplishment ever.[1]

Palytoxin targets the sodium-potassium pump protein by binding to the molecule such that the molecule is locked in a position where it allows passive transport of both the sodium and potassium ions, thereby destroying the ion gradient that is essential for most cells.

Typical symptoms of palytoxin poisoning are angina-like chest pains, asthma-like breathing difficulties, tachycardia, unstable blood pressure, hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), and an electrocardiogram showing an exaggerated T wave. The onset of symptoms is rapid, and death usually follows just minutes after.

Animal studies have shown that vasodilators, such as papverine and isosorbide nitrate, can be used as antidotes. The animal experiments only showed benefit if the antidotes were injected into the heart immediately following exposure.[1] Treatment in humans is symptomatic and supportive.

[jc]

That post from reef central is very old and has started a big debate. Here is one of the latest postings.

Here's a response from Yuzuru Shimizu who made 2 study about Palytoxin:

quoteear Stephane:
Don't worry. You won't be hurt with the zoanthus in aquarium. Even if
it is toxic, enough toxin will not come into your body. The toxicity
of Palythoa varies. I collected a large amount in Puerto Rico with no
ill effect. However, it is always a good practice to wear rubber
gloves, because many marine organisms are cause of allergic reactions.
As to Ostereopsis, it produces a small amount of palytoxin analogues,
but it is not known if they are the source of palytoxin in Palythoa.
Again, you have to grow thousands of liters to get visible amounts of
them. We grew one time thousand of liters, but found very little
toxins.

Yuzuru Shimizu, Ph.D., D. Pharm. Sci. (Hon.)
Omar-Youngken Distinguished Chair Emeritus of Natural Product Chemistry
Professor Emeritus of Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences,
College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island

[tab]

good to know! I'm relieved. thanks..

[jc]

You should still use caution. No telling what your individual response to the toxin would be.

[5.0Stang]

MAN learn something new everyday

[prof]

Yup, I remeber when that was first posted. I always wash my hands before I eat, drink, touch my face, my pets or my baby. I don't know for sure how bad any of our reactions might be but I don't want to find out.

On the other hand, I don't wear gloves. The only thing that has bothered my skin so far was a large anemone.

[captexas]

I've heard of people being affected who had open cuts/scabs on their hands/arms. I've never had any problems handling zoo's, but I did have issues with an open brain coral I had. Everytime I picked it up and moved around, my arm would get a little numb for a few minutes. It excreted a slime when handled that must have had some toxin in it.

[erikharrison]

Everytime I picked it up and moved around, my arm would get a little numb for a few minutes.

That happened to me last night, only I dont have any really hard corals. Mostly zoo/paly stuff. It's a creepy thought though... WASH YOUR HANDS

[TAXMAN]

Yea that post on RC is several years old I think. I rememeber that huge debate. I aint skeered though. I mess with mine and dont worry about it. I think it may be similar to not leting dogs eat chocolate. It could kill them, but we still eat it. Some people are allergic and some are not. I dont think it's really a Zoa problem, more of an individual problem.