Recent findings of paralytic shellfish toxins linked to the genus Alexandrium Halim in Mediterranean mollusc production areas

Paralytic shellfish poisoning is a human intoxication syndrome associated with the consumption of seafood that has been contaminated with paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), a group of natural neurotoxic alkaloids produced by marine dinoflagellates, including some Alexandrium species. This study pres...

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Veröffentlicht in:Toxicon (Oxford) 2020-01, Vol.174, p.48-56
Hauptverfasser: Bazzoni, Anna Maria, Cangini, Monica, Mudadu, Alessandro G., Lorenzoni, Giuseppa, Arras, Igor, Sanna, Giovanna, Pino, Fiorella, Milandri, Anna, Virgilio, Sebastiano
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Paralytic shellfish poisoning is a human intoxication syndrome associated with the consumption of seafood that has been contaminated with paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), a group of natural neurotoxic alkaloids produced by marine dinoflagellates, including some Alexandrium species. This study presents findings of PSTs in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) during 2018–2019 in several mollusc production areas of Sardinia (Italy, western Mediterranean). Investigations of the presence and abundance of PST-producing microalgal species in marine water and of the toxins associated with shellfish were carried out concomitantly. Overall, the results suggested a spatio-temporal expansion of Alexandriumpacificum and Alexandriumminutum in recent years, with an increasing number of PSTs present in molluscs and increased occurrences of toxicity cases. Liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection determined the toxin profile to be composed primarily of the carbamate gonyautoxin-5 and N-sulphocarbamoyltoxins 1 and 2. The study highlights the potential high risk to consumers of poisoning by bivalve molluscs bred in Sardinia, where shellfish production is a very important industrial sector. For this reason, routine monitoring is strongly recommended in order to mitigate any harm to human health as well as negative socio-economic consequences. •Recent findings of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in mussels from the Mediterranean area are reported.•A spatio-temporal expansion of Alexandrium species had occurred in recent years.•The toxin profile of Alexandrium pacificum suggested that it was a PST producer.•PSTs over the legal limit in mussels in 2018 posed a crucial health threat.
ISSN:0041-0101
1879-3150
DOI:10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.12.157