What is a pufferfish?
• Pufferfish are fish belonging to the order Tetraodontiformes.
• In India, freshwater pufferfish are found in river systems like the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Mahanadi.
• They are often mistakenly sold with mixed freshwater catch.
Toxin associated
• Tetrodotoxin (TTX)
• A highly potent neurotoxin.
• It is heat-stable (not destroyed by cooking).
• Blocks sodium channels in nerves, preventing nerve signal transmission.
Impact on humans
• Symptoms include tingling, numbness, vomiting, dizziness.
• Can progress to muscle paralysis, respiratory failure and death.
• No specific antidote; treatment is supportive.
