Is Chelonitoxin Poisoning safe while breastfeeding?

Summary of use during breastfeeding

Chelonitoxism is caused by eating sea turtle meat contaminated with chelonitoxins, which are thought to accumulate from the environment without affecting the turtle. Initially, gastrointestinal symptoms occur, followed by neurologic, hepatic and renal toxicity. Breastfed infants have been adversely affected by maternal poisoning, including some deaths. Mothers suspected of having chelonitoxin poisoning should not breastfeed until they have recovered.

Effects on the breastfed infant

One poisoning incident occurred after ingestion of hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, at a family gathering on a remote island in Micronesia. Two adults and 4 children aged 2 to 4 years died from the poisoning before reaching the hospital. Two of the four infants who died were breastfed after maternal ingestion, one had received only breastmilk and another who had also been given a small amount of turtle meat.[1]

Another cluster of poisonings from eating meat from the same species of sea turtle occurred in western Madagascar and affected 76 victims. Seven lactating women and their 7 infants were poisoned. None of the mothers died, but 4 of the infants died, including 1 who was exclusively breastfed. Infant symptoms consisted of hypotonia, dyspnea and coma. Five of the mothers had discontinued nursing their infants because of symptoms, but 2 of their infants died despite this precaution. There are several other reports of breastfed infant deaths in the literature.[2,3]

Effects on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Levels in milk

Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.