Gambierdiscus toxicus, a ciguatera-causing dinoflagellate from Hawaii

Wild cells of Gambierdiscus toxicus, the alleged causative organism of ciguatera, were collected on the Island of Oahu and their toxicity established. The largest population was found in association with the red alga Spyridia filamentosa. Two toxic prnciples seem to exist in the organism: one was ciguatoxin-like, and the other maitotoxin-like, as shown by their action on the guinea pigatrium. These findings are in agreement with those previously reported for G. toxicus from French Polynesia.