If seafood poisonings are well documented in the Pacific region, they are not often reported in the Indian Ocean. In Madagascar, fishermen and people living in coastal areas are traditionally aware of seafood poi - sonings . Mass intoxications were described in the sixties, including lethal cases following sardine ingestion. From 1989 to 1993, 28 ichtyosarcotoxism cases, mainly ciguatera occurring in children, were reported in Tulear hospital . From July 1993 to May 1996, nine seafood poisoning outbreaks occurred in coastal villages after turtle, shark and sardine meals. Clinical symptoms were related to marine toxins. For turtle intoxications, gastro-intestinal symptoms are the most frequently seen (acute stomatitis, dysphagia, vomiting and diarrhea) ,... |