Authors: Kan Spencer KP Singh N Chan Mechiel KC
Publish Date: 1986/01/01
Volume: 80, Issue: 1, Pages: 64-65
Abstract
Spencer KP Kan N Singh Mechiel KC Chan Oliva vidua fulminans a marine mollusc responsible for five fatal cases of neurotoxic food poisoning in Sabah Malaysia Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Volume 80 Issue 1 1986 Pages 64–65 https//doiorg/101016/0035920386901975This is the first report in which a marine mollusc Oliva vidua fulminans olives generally not known to be poisonous was responsible for death in five children after consuming boiled olives with tamarind The onset of symptoms was rapid 10 to 20 min after consumption of the olives Signs and symptoms included nausea vomiting abdominal pain tingling sensation around the lips numbness around the mouth drowsiness lethargy and generalized weakness with paraesthesia in the limbs The five deaths occurred within 3 to 4 hours after eating the poisoned olives and resulted from respiratory failure Leftover olives from the affected household and freshly collected live olives had a toxicity of 14200 mouse units MU and 15000 MU per 100 g meat respectively No other common chemical poison and organophosphorus insecticides were detected The neurotoxic agent was acid and heat stable and was toxic at pH less than 4 Its action was similar to that of paralytic shellfish poisoning which was caused by toxins from certain dinoflagellates
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