• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.447-453
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• 2006

Toxicity of two species of puffer fish, Takifugu porphyreus and Takifugu rubripes, collected from coastal regions of Korea, was determined using a mouse bioassay, In T. porphyreus, the proportion of toxic specimens containing ${\ge}$ 10 MU/g was 58.3% for the ovary, 32.6% for the skin, 12.0% for the gallbladder, 11.6% for the liver and intestine, and 9.3% for the fin; no toxicity was detected in the muscle and testis using the mouse bioassay. The highest toxin levels were 531 MU/g in the liver, 253 MU/g in the intestine, 136 MU/g in the gallbladder, 118 MU/g in the skin, 116 MU/g in the ovary, and 108 MU/g in the fin. The skin, which is used for human consumption, showed significantly high toxicity with an average of $11{\pm}3\;(mean{\pm}SE) MU/g$. Takifugu porphyreus toxicity also exhibited remarkable regional variation. In T. rubripes, the proportion of toxic specimens was 25.0% for the ovary, 15.8% for the liver, 11.1% for the gallbladder, and 5.3% for the fin and intestine; no toxicity was detected in the muscle, skin, or testis. Among the organs, the highest toxin levels were 228 MU/g in the ovary, followed by 112 MU/g in the liver, 28 MU/g in the gallbladder, 18 MU/g in the intestine, 11 MU/g in the fin, and 8 MU/g in the skin. Thus, we found acceptable toxin levels in the edible muscle and skin of T. rubripes and in the muscle of T. porphyreus. However, the skin of T. porphyreus, which showed significantly high toxicity, requires special attention when used for human consumption.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.725-732
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• 2013

To identify the food component characteristics of seven edible pufferfishes (five wild pufferfishes including striped puffer Takifugu xanthopterus; eyespot puffer Takifugu chinensis; purple puffer Takifugu porphyreus; rough-backed puffer Lagocephalus wheeleri; and grass puffer Takifugu niphobles; and two cultured pufferfishes including yellow puffer Takifugu obscurus, and tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes) in Korea, the proximate, fatty/amino acid, chemical and taste compositions were investigated. The proximate compositions were not significantly different among the sampled pufferfishes, whereas grass puffer had lower moisture and crude lipid levels contents, and higher crude protein and ash contents than the other species. The total amino acid levels in wild and cultured pufferfishes were 14,941.6-16,427.9 mg/100 g, and the major amino acids were aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, leucine, lysine and arginine. Regarding the fatty acid and mineral compositions, the major fatty acids included 22:6n-3, 16:0, 18:1n-9, 20:5n-3, 18:0, 20:4n-3, and 22:5n-3 in that order, and there was a little difference among the sampled pufferfishes. Grass puffer had a higher monoenes ratio, i.e., 16:1n-7 and 18:1n-9, and a lower polyenes ratio than the other pufferfishes. The main minerals detected K, P, Na, S and Ca. Regarding the taste-active compounds, the free amino acid contents of pufferfish extracts were 236.4-428.1 mg/100 g, consisting primarily of taurine, lysine, proline, glycine, alanine and arginine in that order. The amino nitrogen content of the pufferfishes was 84.5-156.4 mg/100 g, and there was a little difference among the species. As for taste intensity, the total taste value of the purple puffer was higher than that of the other pufferfishes.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.367-375
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• 2019

Pufferfish (Takifugu spp.) are economically important edible marine fish. Mistakes in pufferfish classification can lead to poisoning; therefore, accurate species identification is critical. In this study, we used the mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) to design specific primers for six Takifugu species among the 21 domestic or imported pufferfish species legally sold for consumption in Korea. We rapidly and simultaneously identified these pufferfish species using a highly efficient, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system with the six species-specific primers. The results showed that species-specific multiplex PCR (multiplex species-specific polymerase chain reaction; MSS-PCR) either specifically amplified PCR products of a unique size or failed. MSS-PCR yielded amplification fragment lengths of 897 bp for Takifugu pardalis, 822 bp for T. porphyreus, 667 bp for T. niphobles, 454 bp for T. poecilonotus, 366 bp for T. rubripes, and 230 bp for T. xanthpterus using the species-specific primers and a control primer (ca. 1,200 bp). We visualized the results using agarose gel electrophoresis to obtain accurate contrasts of the six Takifugu species. MSS-PCR analysis is easily performed and provides identification results within 6 h. This technique is a powerful tool for the discrimination of Takifugu species and will help prevent falsified labeling, protect consumer rights, and reduce the risk of pufferfish poisoning..

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.223-233
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• 2006

The annual and spatial changes in the species composition of catch off Yeosu were analyzed using the daily sales slip catch data by a set net in the inshore waters off Dolsan Islands in Yeosu from April to October 2001, off Yeon Islands of Yeosu from April to October 2002 and in the offshore waters off Dolsan Islands of Yeosu from April to December 2003, respectively. Scomberomorus niphonius, Seriola spp., Trichiurus lepturus, Engraulis japonicus, Sarda orientalis, Todarodes pacificus, Pampus echinogaster, Sardinella zunasi, Scomber japonicus, Lophius litulon and Loligo beka were dominant species in abundance, indicating that pelagic fish were mainly caught by a set net off Yeosu. S. zunasi, P. echinogaster, Platycephalus indicus and L. beka inhabited mainly in the inshore waters, and S. niphonius, Seriola spp., T. lepturus, P. echinogaster, T. pacificus, Takifugu porphyreus and Pagrus major resided mainly in the offshore waters as the pelagic resident species. E. japonicus was a representative dominant species moving between the inshore and the offshore waters seasonally. S. zunasi and E. japonicus occurred in the inshore waters, and E. japonicus, L. litulon and Seriola spp. begain to be caught in the deep offshore waters in spring. Total catch was high during the summer season by migration of the open sea species such as T. lepturus, S. niphonius, S. japonicus, Seriola spp., S. orientalis, P. echinogaster and T. pacificus. In fall, S. niphonius, E. japonicus, Sphyraena pinguis, Siganus fuscescens and Leiognathus nuchalis were dominant in the inshore waters, and S. niphonius, P. echinogaster, Hyporhamphus sajori, S. japonicus and T. lepturus continued to occur from summer in the offshore waters but total catch decreased, indicating the typical seasonal variation pattern of the temperate region. Most of catchable fishes by a set net were the pelagic species showing a significant temporal variation. Collection and analysis of daily catch data by large set nets can be used to determine seasonal variation in species composition of pelagic fish in a study area.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.143-157
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• 2001

To determine seasonal fluctuations in abundance and species composition of the fishes, samples were collected by bottom trawl off Kohung Penisula from February to December 1999. A total of 7,197 fishes were sampled and identified into 123 species, 54 families, 13 orders and 2 classes. Of the 13 orders, Perciformes, Scorpaniformes, Pleuronectiformes and Tetraodontiformes accounted for approximately 82.9% of the total. Gobiid fishes were dominant, representing 13 species. Leiognathus nuchalis, Konosirus punctatus, Engraulis japonicus, Ilisha elongata, Trichiurus japonicus, Argyrosomus argentatus, Ditrema temmincki, Takifugu niphobles, Hexagrammos otakii and Lateolabrax japonicus accounted for 71.4% of the number of individuals. Mugil cephalus, Sebastes schlegeli, Lateolabrax japonicus, Konosirus punctatus, Hexagrammos otakii, Conger myriaster, Liparis tanakai, Seriola quinqueradiata, Trichiurus japonicus, Sebastiscus marmoratus and Limanda yokohamae accounted for 50.7% of the total biomass. The number of species showed a seasonal variation, higher in spring, summer and autumn than in winter. The Largest numbers of individuals and greater biomass were observed in August. The economic fishes of this area were Konosirus punctatus, Engraulis japonicus, Mugil cephalus, Sebastes inermis, Sebastes schlegeli, Sebastes oblongus, Sebastiscus marmoratus, Platycephalus indicus, Hexagrammos agrammus, Hexagrammos otakii, Lateolabrax japonicus, Epinephelus akaara, Epinephelus septemfasciatus, Seriola quinqueradiata, Pagrus major, Acanthopagrus schlegeli, Argyrosomus argentatus, Oplegnathus fasciatus, Trichiurus japonicus, Pampus echinogaster, Paralichthys olivaceus, Kareius bicoloratus, Limanda yokohamae and Takifugu porphyreus.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.464-475
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• 2023

In this study, based on an analysis of two DNA barcode markers (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b genes), we performed species identification and monitored labeling compliance for 50 commercial pufferfish products sold in on-line markets in Korea. Using these barcode sequences as a query for species identification and phylogenetic analysis, we screened the GenBank database. A total of seven pufferfish species (Takifugu chinensis, T. pseudommus, T. xanthopterus, T. alboplumbeus, T. porphyreus, T. vermicularis, and Lagocephalus cheesemanii) were identified and we detected 35 products (70%) that were non-compliant with the corresponding label information. Moreover, the labels on 12 commercial products contained only the general common name (i.e., pufferfish), although not the scientific or Korean names for the 21 edible pufferfish species. Furthermore, the proportion of mislabeled highly processed products (n = 9, 81.8%) was higher than that of simply processed products (n = 26, 66.7%). With respect to the country of origin, the percentage of mislabeled Chinese products (n = 8, 80%) was higher than that of Korean products (n = 26, 66.7%). In addition, the market and dialect names of different pufferfish species were labeled only as Jolbok or Milbok, whereas two non-edible pufferfish species (T. vermicularis and T. pseudommus) were used in six commercial pufferfish products described as JolboK and Gumbok on their labels, which could be attributable to the complex classification system used for pufferfish. These monitoring results highlight the necessity to develop genetic methods that can be used to identify the 21 edible pufferfish species, as well as the need for regulatory monitoring of commercial pufferfish products.