Lobster Supply Chains Are Not at Risk from Paralytic Shellfish Toxin Accumulation during Wet Storage

Lobster species can accumulate paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) in their hepatopancreas following the consumption of toxic prey. The Southern Rock Lobster (SRL), Jasus edwardsii, industry in Tasmania, Australia, and New Zealand, collectively valued at AUD 365 M, actively manages PST risk based on toxin monitoring of lobsters in coastal waters. The SRL supply chain predominantly provides live lobsters, which includes wet holding in fishing vessels, sea-cages, or processing facilities for periods of up to several months. Survival, quality, and safety of this largely exported high-value product is a major consideration for the industry. In a controlled experiment, SRL were exposed to highly toxic cultures of Alexandrium catenella at field relevant concentrations (2 × 105 cells L−1) in an experimental aquaculture facility over a period of 21 days. While significant PST accumulation in the lobster hepatopancreas has been reported in parallel experiments feeding lobsters with toxic mussels, no PST toxin accumulated in this experiment from exposure to toxic algal cells, and no negative impact on lobster health was observed as assessed via a wide range of behavioural, immunological, and physiological measures. We conclude that there is no risk of PST accumulation, nor risk to survival or quality at the point of consumption through exposure to toxic algal cells.

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Shellfish Toxin Uptake and Depuration in Multiple Atlantic Canadian Molluscan Species: Application to Selection of Sentinel Species in Monitoring Programs

Toxins ◽

10.3390/toxins13020168 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 168

Author(s):

Wade A. Rourke ◽

Andrew Justason ◽

Jennifer L. Martin ◽

Cory J. Murphy

Keyword(s):

Monitoring Program ◽

Sentinel Species ◽

Paralytic Shellfish Toxins ◽

Monitoring Programs ◽

Paralytic Shellfish ◽

Shellfish Toxin ◽

Multiple Species ◽

Toxin Uptake ◽

Bivalve Shellfish ◽

Selection Of

Shellfish toxin monitoring programs often use mussels as the sentinel species to represent risk in other bivalve shellfish species. Studies have examined accumulation and depuration rates in various species, but little information is available to compare multiple species from the same harvest area. A 2-year research project was performed to validate the use of mussels as the sentinel species to represent other relevant eastern Canadian shellfish species (clams, scallops, and oysters). Samples were collected simultaneously from Deadmans Harbour, NB, and were tested for paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) and amnesic shellfish toxin (AST). Phytoplankton was also monitored at this site. Scallops accumulated PSTs and AST sooner, at higher concentrations, and retained toxins longer than mussels. Data from monitoring program samples in Mahone Bay, NS, are presented as a real-world validation of findings. Simultaneous sampling of mussels and scallops showed significant differences between shellfish toxin results in these species. These data suggest more consideration should be given to situations where multiple species are present, especially scallops.

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Change in Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Depending on Dynamics of Harmful Alexandrium catenella (Group I) in the Geoje Coast (South Korea) during Bloom Season

Toxins ◽

10.3390/toxins12070442 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 442

Author(s):

Seung Ho Baek ◽

Jung Min Choi ◽

Minji Lee ◽

Bum Soo Park ◽

Yuchengmin Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Consumption ◽

Nakdong River ◽

Alexandrium Catenella ◽

Low Salinity ◽

Shellfish Toxins ◽

Paralytic Shellfish Toxins ◽

Group I ◽

Paralytic Shellfish ◽

High Nutrient ◽

The Nakdong River

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) produced by Alexandrium catenella (formerly A. tamarense) in Korean coastal waters caused the deaths of four people (in 1986 and 1996) who consumed contaminated mussels (Mytilus edulis). This led to more detailed consideration of the risks of PST outbreaks and incidents in Korea, including the introduction of shellfish collection bans. In this study, we investigated the relationships between A. catenella population dynamics and PST accumulation in the mussel M. galloprovincialis. Discharges from the Nakdong River affect the environmental conditions along the Geoje coast, resulting in low salinity and high nutrient levels that trigger blooms of A. catenella. At the toxin peak on 24 April 2017, the toxins detected in A. catenella cells were C1, gonyautoxin (GTX)1 and GTX2, whereas the concentrations of PSTs in M. galloprovincialis were high and in the order of GTX4 > GTX1 > GTX3 > saxitoxin (STX) > GTX2 > neoSTX > decarbamoylgonyautoxin (dcGTX)2 > dc GTX3. The PST level in mussels was also high. At 15 °C, the PSTs are constantly found to be higher (10-fold higher in 2017 and 30-fold higher in 2018) than safe levels for human consumption (80 μg STX diHCl equivalents 100 g−1).

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Uptake of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins by Blacklip Abalone (Haliotis rubra rubra Leach) from direct exposure to Alexandrium catenella microalgal cells and toxic aquaculture feed

Harmful Algae ◽

10.1016/j.hal.2020.101925 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 99 ◽

pp. 101925 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andreas Seger ◽

Gustaaf Hallegraeff ◽

David A.J. Stone ◽

Matthew S. Bansemer ◽

D. Tim Harwood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alexandrium Catenella ◽

Shellfish Toxins ◽

Paralytic Shellfish Toxins ◽

Paralytic Shellfish ◽

Direct Exposure ◽

Aquaculture Feed ◽

Haliotis Rubra

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Sources of paralytic shellfish toxin accumulation variability in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

Toxicon ◽

10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.12.050 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 144 ◽

pp. 14-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Émilien Pousse ◽

Jonathan Flye-Sainte-Marie ◽

Marianne Alunno-Bruscia ◽

Hélène Hégaret ◽

Fred Jean

Keyword(s):

Crassostrea Gigas ◽

Pacific Oyster ◽

Paralytic Shellfish Toxin ◽

Paralytic Shellfish ◽

The Pacific ◽

Shellfish Toxin ◽

Toxin Accumulation

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Reevaluation of Production of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin by Bacteria Associated with Dinoflagellates of the Portuguese Coast

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.69.9.5693-5698.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 69 (9) ◽

pp. 5693-5698 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Claudia A. Martins ◽

Paula Alvito ◽

Maria João Tavares ◽

Paulo Pereira ◽

Gregory Doucette ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Analytical Methods ◽

Toxin Production ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Portuguese Coast ◽

Shellfish Toxins ◽

Paralytic Shellfish Toxins ◽

Paralytic Shellfish ◽

Cyanobacterial Species ◽

Toxic Dinoflagellates ◽

Shellfish Toxin

ABSTRACT Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are potent neurotoxins produced by certain dinoflagellate and cyanobacterial species. The autonomous production of PSTs by bacteria remains controversial. In this study, PST production by two bacterial strains, isolated previously from toxic dinoflagellates, was evaluated using biological and analytical methods. Analyses were performed under conditions determined previously to be optimal for toxin production and detection. Our data are inconsistent with autonomous bacterial PST production under these conditions, thereby challenging previous findings for the same strains.

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