Tetrodotoxin Latest News
Food safety authorities and doctors suspect that the severe illness in people who consumed seafood at a restaurant in Vizhinjam, Kerala, was caused by contamination with a highly potent marine neurotoxin, likely tetrodotoxin (TTX).
About Tetrodotoxin
- It is an extremely potent marine neurotoxin.
- It is a crystalline, weakly basic, colorless organic substance. It darkens above 220° C.
- Chemical Formula: C11H17N3O8.
- It naturally occurs in the skin, intestine, and liver of some fish in the family Tetraodontidae.
- Examples include puffer fish, porcupine fish, ocean sunfish, and some species of newts and salamanders.
- Human poisonings occur when the flesh and/or organs of the fish are improperly prepared and eaten.
- TTX interferes with the transmission of signals from nerves to muscles and causes an increasing paralysis of the muscles of the body.
- Its toxicity is more than 1000 times greater than sodium cyanide.
- TTX poisoning can be fatal.
- It has no known antidote. Treatment is mainly supportive.
Source: TH
Last updated on March, 2026
→ UPSC Final Result 2025 is now out.
→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.
→ Anuj Agnihotri secured AIR 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025.
→ UPSC Marksheet 2025 is now out.
→ UPSC Notification 2026 & UPSC IFoS Notification 2026 is now out on the official website at upsconline.nic.in.
→ UPSC Calendar 2026 has been released.
→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus 2026 here.
→ UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.
→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.
→ Prepare effectively with Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Prelims Test Series 2026 featuring full-length mock tests, detailed solutions, and performance analysis.
→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2026 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.
→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s Best UPSC Mentorship Program for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.
→ Shakti Dubey secures AIR 1 in UPSC CSE Exam 2024.
→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India
Tetrodotoxin FAQ's
Q1. What is Tetrodotoxin (TTX)?+
Q2. What are the physical characteristics of Tetrodotoxin?+
Q3. In which family of fish is Tetrodotoxin commonly found?+
Q4. How does Tetrodotoxin affect the human body?+
Q5. Is there a specific antidote for Tetrodotoxin poisoning?+
Tags: prelims pointers tetrodotoxin upsc prelims current afffairs
