Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxin esters in Danish blue mussels and surf clams

Abstract

Until recently, little focus was given to the presence of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxin esters in seafood products. However, during the last few years, the occurrence of a high percentage of esters of the total amount of DSP toxins present in some seafood products has been observed. Samples of Danish surf clams (Spisola spp.) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) from 1999-2004 were analysed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for the presence of DSP toxin esters. The samples contained only okadaic acid and esters of okadaic acid. The level of total okadaic acid equivalents ranged from 224 to 2516 microg kg-1 in surf clams. The percentage of okadaic acid esters of the total okadaic acid equivalents ranged from 83 to 98%, mean 95%. The level of total okadaic acid equivalents ranged from 43 to 1631 microg kg-1 in blue mussels. The percentage of okadaic acid esters of the total okadaic acid equivalents ranged from 21 to 86%, mean 59%. The probability of a high percentage of okadaic acid esters seems to increase with higher amounts of total okadaic acid equivalents in the bivalves. The large prevalence of DSP toxin esters are of particular importance because of the increased use of chemical methods instead of mouse bioassay for the detection of DSP toxicity.

Development and Single-Laboratory Validation of a Pseudofunctional Biosensor Immunoassay for the Detection of the Okadaic Acid Group of Toxins

“…The TEFs for OA and DTX-1 have been established as 1; however, the relative toxicity of DTX-2 is 0.6. 18 The relative toxicity of DTX-3 is determined by the parent OA analogue (OA, DTX-1, or DTX-2), 32,33 which is thought to be released in vivo when the esters are hydrolyzed in the human gastric system. 21,32,33 It has been recommended that when substituting the MBA for lipophilic marine toxins in shellfish with analytical procedures relative toxicities of all analogues that contribute to health risk must be factored in.…”

Development of a monoclonal antibody binding okadaic acid and dinophysistoxins-1, -2 in proportion to their toxicity equivalence factors

“…These are a group of thermostable, polyether and lipophilic compounds causing a gastrointestinal illness with the predominant symptoms of diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain (Aune et al, 2007;Jorgensen et al, 2005). DSP incidents have been reported worldwide with OA outbreaks more frequently associated with Europe (Kreuzer et al, 1999) while in Japan DTX-1 is more prevalent (Hallegraeff, 1995) and in Ireland, the principal DSP toxin detected is DTX-2 (Carmody et al, 1996).…”

Contamination of raw bivalve molluscs available in Poland between 2009 and 2013 with marine biotoxins

“…The symptoms can appear from a few hours to a few days after ingestion. In extreme cases of contamination death can result (8,11,12,20). This type of food has become more and more popular in Poland.…”

“…Of 5000 existing species of dinoflagellates and diatoms, 300 can be present in a very large quantity and give rise to algal blooms, also termed "blooming water". Most of them produce marine biotoxins which are harmful for humans (6,9,10,12,15). The term "marine biotoxins" means toxic substances accumulated by bivalve molluscs, in particular as a result of feeding on the plankton containing toxins.…”