Phnom penh: A collaborative research effort between Kratie University and prominent Japanese institutions has shed new light on the critical public health challenge posed by freshwater pufferfish in Cambodia's Mekong River basin.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the joint research, co-published in several leading international journals, involves experts from Nagasaki University, Nifrel Osaka Aquarium, Fukushima Medical University, and Kyoto University School of Public Health. The findings were presented at a scientific conference held on Nov. 13, 2025, at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC).

Titled "Current and Future Perspectives of Freshwater Pufferfish Research in Cambodia," the conference was co-organized by Kratie University and Nagasaki University to present scientific findings and raise public awareness regarding food safety, nutrition, and public health risks associated with the fish. The event saw high-level attendance, including H.E. UENO Atsushi, Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia, and H.E. Dr. Hong Kimcheang, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

H.E. Ngy Laymithona, Rector of Kratie University, emphasized that the presentations by renowned Japanese researchers reflect the strong international cooperation essential for tackling toxicity issues caused by pufferfish in the region. The project, funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), focuses on four main areas: toxin variation, toxin acquisition, consumption habits, and food safety.

Professor Minoru Wada, a key researcher, presented detailed results on species identification of pufferfish samples collected from Kratie province. The analysis combined morphological characteristics with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing of 36 samples, classifying them into two distinct groups: Pao sp. A, distinguished by a short snout and high toxin levels, and Pao sp. B, identified by a longer snout with spines and significantly lower toxin levels.

Professor Wada stressed that pufferfish are not inherently toxin-producing. The toxins, such as saxitoxins (STXs), are exogenous and accumulate in the fish's body through the food chain after they consume bacteria, cyanobacteria, and other aquatic organisms. He concluded that future research must focus on establishing a precise link between the dietary sources and the resulting toxin accumulation in each specific fish species.