Seasonal toxicological profile of three puffer fishes collected along digha coastal belt, west bengal, India

Puffer fish intoxication is extremely frequent in countries like Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh, India etc. In Digha coastal belt of West Bengal, India, three puffer fishes are mostly abundant viz. Lagocephalus lunaris (Bloch and Schneider, 1801); Takifugu oblongus (Bloch, 1786); Tetraodon fluviatilis (Hamilton, 1822). These three puffer fish species are studied for toxicological characterization. In the present study, Gonado-Somatic Index (GSI), Hepato-Somatic Index (HSI) and Lethal Dose 50 (LD50) is observed. To understand the toxicity level in three different seasons, LD50 has been done by using Labeo rohita as test animal. Isolated toxin of puffer fishes was injected intramuscularly to Labeo rohita and toxicity was measured in three different seasons that are pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon. It is observed that in three puffer fishes toxicity level in monsoon season is highest as compared to other seasons. Gonad and liver tissue is more or less equally toxic in three puffer fishes. More lethal potency of gonad has a correlation with spawning and egg maturity.