Global Epidemic of Noxious Phytoplankton Blooms and Food Chain Consequences in Large Ecosystems

Abstract Increasing incidences of phytoplankton blooms with the potential danger of toxin release into the food chain have necessitated the search for new diagnostic methods that can detect toxins quickly and reliably. A competitive enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to quantitate okadaic acid in shellfish and phytoplankton extracts. To determine the specificity of the assay, a number of toxins, such as calyculin A, brevetoxin-1, and dinophysistoxins-1, -2, and -3 were analyzed. Both dinophysistoxins-2 and -1 could be detected by the assay but in concentration ranges 10- and 20-fold higher than that for okadaic acid, respectively. Dinophysistoxin-3, calyculin A, or brevetoxin-1 could not be detected with this assay. To validate the accuracy of the method, 18 mussel and 7 phytoplankton extracts were analyzed in parallel for okadaic acid content by ELISA and liquid chromatography combined with either fluorescence or mass spectrometric detection. Very high correlation between the results was found.

Download Full-text

Primary Production and the Global Epidemic of Phytoplankton Blooms in the Sea: A Linkage?

Novel Phytoplankton Blooms ◽

10.1007/978-3-642-75280-3_26 ◽

1989 ◽

pp. 449-483 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Theodore J. Smayda

Keyword(s):

Primary Production ◽

Phytoplankton Blooms ◽

Global Epidemic

Download Full-text

Primary production and the global epidemic of phytoplankton blooms in the sea: A linkage?

Coastal and Estuarine Studies - Novel Phytoplankton Blooms: Causes and Impacts of Recurrent Brown Tides and Other Unusual Blooms ◽

10.1029/ce035p0449 ◽

1989 ◽

pp. 449-483 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Theodore J. Smayda

Keyword(s):

Primary Production ◽

Phytoplankton Blooms ◽

Global Epidemic

Download Full-text

Emergence of Viral Infections through Food Supply Chain: A Review

European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety ◽

10.9734/ejnfs/2020/v12i630240 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 83-90

Author(s):

Rafiya Munshi ◽

Afsah Iqbal

Keyword(s):

Human Body ◽

Food Chain ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Control Measures ◽

Effective Control ◽

Severe Illness ◽

Global Epidemic ◽

Wide Range ◽

The World ◽

Wet Market

All living organisms may act as host to a wide range of viruses, and can infect the human body causing severe illness or even death. Viruses have often been important in burdening infections and other illnesses and require special attention because of their different behaviour as compared to bacteria. Two highly pathogenic corona-viruses—severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)—supposed to be emerged from an wet market in china resulted in a global epidemic which took a tool on human lives and currently also the world is fighting a deadliest viral infection caused by a small pathogen possibly transmitted through the food chain in a wet market again in china. The environment is the reservoirs for many of these viruses and any human handling of animals carrying such viruses finds an easy route into human body. Besides, there had been various food borne outbreaks throughout the world due to contaminated agricultural produce, packaging, processed foods or through infected food handlers. Such incidents have prioritized the need for effective control measures, intensified research and risk assessment measures in controlling such outbreaks. This review highlights a brief description of viral transmissions, virus and human gut response and preventable strategies in the food chain to contain such infections.

Download Full-text