Paralytic shellfish poisoning and palytoxin poisoning in dogs

Abstract

BackgroundFatal cases of exposure to paralytic shellfish toxins and palytoxins have occurred in companion animals but are poorly described.MethodsWe describe one case of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and three cases of palytoxin poisoning in dogs.ResultsMild PSP occurred following ingestion of crab while walking on a beach. Analysis confirmed the presence of paralytic shellfish toxins, particularly decarbamoyl saxitoxin, in clinical samples and marine organisms. This case occurred shortly after an outbreak of PSP in dogs on the eastern coast of England. Palytoxin poisoning occurred in a dog after it chewed coral removed from an aquarium. Signs included collapse, hypothermia, bloody diarrhoea and respiratory distress. The dog was euthanised due to rapid deterioration and poor prognosis. Palytoxin was not detected in a premortem blood sample. Two other dogs in a separate incident developed only mild signs (fever and respiratory distress) after suspected exposure to aerosolised palytoxin and recovered within a few hours.ConclusionCases of PSP are episodic and not common in dogs. Cases of palytoxin exposure are reportedly increasing in humans, and there is presumably also an increased risk to pets. There is no specific treatment for PSP or palytoxin poisoning.

Zootoxins and Domestic Animals: A European View

“…Between 2017 and 2018, in England, there were multiple incidents of illness in dogs reported, due to the consumption of marine animals. The dogs were reported to have eaten different beached marine animals, such as crabs, starfish, and dab fish that led to different negative effects, such as vomiting, loss of motor control, muscle paralysis, and in some cases death [ 13 , 87 ]. Subsequential analyses found that the crabs, starfish, and dab fish from the beaches presented high concentrations of PSTs, with concentrations 18 times higher than those permitted by the European Union (i.e., over 14,000 µg STX eq/kg found in one starfish sample) [ 13 ].…”

“…The dogs were reported to have eaten different beached marine animals, such as crabs, starfish, and dab fish that led to different negative effects, such as vomiting, loss of motor control, muscle paralysis, and in some cases death [ 13 , 87 ]. Subsequential analyses found that the crabs, starfish, and dab fish from the beaches presented high concentrations of PSTs, with concentrations 18 times higher than those permitted by the European Union (i.e., over 14,000 µg STX eq/kg found in one starfish sample) [ 13 ]. Overall, Turner and coworkers, using LC-FLD analysis, reported that the PSTs present in beach samples were three analogues: dicarbamoyl saxitoxin (dsSTX), saxitoxin (STX), and gonyautotoxins 5 (GTX5) [ 87 ].…”

“…Another marine toxin that has been reported as causing problems in companion animals is palytoxin. Palytoxin is a marine toxin produced by several soft corals and some dinoflagellates, cyanobacteria, mollusks, crabs, and fish [ 13 ]. Bates and coworkers have highlighted that the majority of the cases of companion animal exposure are connected with zoanthid corals, which are grown in saltwater aquaria [ 13 ].…”

“…Palytoxin is a marine toxin produced by several soft corals and some dinoflagellates, cyanobacteria, mollusks, crabs, and fish [ 13 ]. Bates and coworkers have highlighted that the majority of the cases of companion animal exposure are connected with zoanthid corals, which are grown in saltwater aquaria [ 13 ]. Indeed, animals can encounter these corals during the practice of creating or cleaning aquariums by their owners, since a lot of “coral powder” is produced, aerosolized, and inhaled.…”

“…), or fish toxins (venoms and poisons), is very rare [ 6 , 13 ]. Recently in the UK, case reports involving dogs related to their exposure to paralytic shellfish toxins [ 13 ], palytoxin [ 13 ], and jelly fish (phylum Cnidaria), were collected [ 14 ]. Jellyfish poisoning was recently reported in Italy, as well [ 6 ].…”