Outbreaks of diarrhoea associated with butterfish in Victoria.

In the last 3 years the Department of Human Services in Victoria has recorded 3 outbreaks of gastroenteritis believed to be associated with consumption of ‘butterfish’. In Victoria, escolar (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum and Ruvettus pretiosus) and rudderfish (Centrolophus sp.) are commonly marketed under the name ‘butterfish’. True butterfish, (Scatophagus species) is caught as a by-catch in seine nets and traps in the shallows of northern Australia and is very unlikely to be available in any of the southern states of Australia. This short report summarises the three Victorian outbreaks.