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Review
. 2008 Jun 10;6(2):308-48.
doi: 10.3390/md20080015.

Non-traditional vectors for paralytic shellfish poisoning

Jonathan R Deeds  1 , Jan H Landsberg, Stacey M Etheridge, Grant C Pitcher, Sara Watt Longan
Affiliations
Review

Non-traditional vectors for paralytic shellfish poisoning

Jonathan R Deeds et al. Mar Drugs. .

Abstract

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), due to saxitoxin and related compounds, typically results from the consumption of filter-feeding molluscan shellfish that concentrate toxins from marine dinoflagellates. In addition to these microalgal sources, saxitoxin and related compounds, referred to in this review as STXs, are also produced in freshwater cyanobacteria and have been associated with calcareous red macroalgae. STXs are transferred and bioaccumulate throughout aquatic food webs, and can be vectored to terrestrial biota, including humans. Fisheries closures and human intoxications due to STXs have been documented in several non-traditional (i.e. non-filter-feeding) vectors. These include, but are not limited to, marine gastropods, both carnivorous and grazing, crustacea, and fish that acquire STXs through toxin transfer. Often due to spatial, temporal, or a species disconnection from the primary source of STXs (bloom forming dinoflagellates), monitoring and management of such non-traditional PSP vectors has been challenging. A brief literature review is provided for filter feeding (traditional) and non-filter feeding (non-traditional) vectors of STXs with specific reference to human effects. We include several case studies pertaining to management actions to prevent PSP, as well as food poisoning incidents from STX(s) accumulation in non-traditional PSP vectors.

Keywords: PSP; SPFP; STXs; crustaceans; gastropods; non traditional vectors; paralytic shellfish poisoning; public health; puffer fish; saxitoxin puffer fish poisoning; saxitoxins.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Map of the state of Alaska, U.S.A. indicating collection sites for crab STX testing. (B) Number of samples above and below the regulatory action limit of 80 μg STX eq./100 g tissue for all species of commercially harvested crab in Alaska between 1992–2004, broken down by major testing area. All values are for crab viscera only. Sample = 1 crab. All testing done by AOAC mouse bioassay.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Number of samples above and below the regulatory action limit of 80 μg STX eq./100 g tissue for commercially harvested crab in Alaska between 1992–2004 for all testing areas, broken down by crab type: Dungeness (Cancer magister), Tanner: (Chionoecetes opilio and Chionoecetes bairdi), King Crab: (Red, Paralithodes camtschaticus; Blue, Paralithodes platypus; Brown, Lithodes aequispinus), and Miscellaneous (including minced, viscera, and Hair Crab, Erimacrus isenbeckii). (B) Total STXs (in μg STX equivalents/100 g viscera) for all commercially harvested crab species in Alaska for all areas from 1992–2004.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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