Analytical and functional profiles of paralytic shellfish toxins extracted from and from Angola.

Paralytic shellfish poisoning is a foodborne illness that typically derive from the consumption of shellfish contaminated with saxitoxin-group of toxins produced by dinoflagellates of the genus Gymnodinium, Alexandrium and Pyrodinium. N-sulfocarbamoyl, carbamate and dicarbamoyl are the most abundant. In 2007 and 2008 some episodes of PSP occurred in Angola where there is not monitoring program for shellfish contamination with marine biotoxins.

DSP Toxin Distribution across Organs in Mice after Acute Oral Administration.

Okadaic acid (OA) and its main structural analogs dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1) and dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX2) are marine lipophilic phycotoxins distributed worldwide that can be accumulated by edible shellfish and can cause diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP). In order to study their toxicokinetics, mice were treated with different doses of OA, DTX1, or DTX2 and signs of toxicity were recorded up to 24 h. Toxin distribution in the main organs from the gastrointestinal tract was assessed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis.

Paralytic Shellfish Toxins Occurrence in Non-Traditional Invertebrate Vectors from North Atlantic Waters (Azores, Madeira, and Morocco).

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are potent alkaloids of microalgal and cyanobacterial origin, with worldwide distribution. Over the last 20 years, the number of poisoning incidents has declined as a result of the implementation of legislation and monitoring programs based on bivalves. In the summer of 2012 and 2013, we collected a total of 98 samples from 23 different species belonging to benthic and subtidal organisms, such as echinoderms, crustaceans, bivalves, and gastropods.

Toxic Action Reevaluation of Okadaic Acid, Dinophysistoxin-1 and Dinophysistoxin-2: Toxicity Equivalency Factors Based on the Oral Toxicity Study.

Background/aims: Okadaic acid (OA) and the structurally related compounds dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1) and dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX2) are marine phycotoxins that cause diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in humans due to ingestion of contaminated shellfish. In order to guarantee consumer protection, the regulatory authorities have defined the maximum level of DSP toxins as 160 µg OA equivalent kg-1 shellfish meat. For risk assessment and overall toxicity determination, knowledge of the relative toxicities of each analogue is required.

Rapid analysis of paralytic shellfish toxins and tetrodotoxins by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using a porous graphitic carbon column.

Although paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) have traditionally been analyzed by liquid chromatography with either pre- or post-column derivatization, and these methods have been validated successfully through inter-laboratory studies, mass spectrometry methods have also been described in literature for use in monitoring programs. However, methods using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) need to be improved in terms of sensitivity, analyte recovery and retention time stability because of undesirable matrix effects. Furthermore, tetrodotoxin (TTX) has been found in northern European bivalves, so it is important to analyze TTX compounds alongside PSTs because characteristics of their toxicity are similar.

Quantification of PSP toxins in toxic shellfish matrices using post-column oxidation liquid chromatography and pre-column oxidation liquid chromatography methods suggests post-column oxidation liquid chromatography as a good monitoring method of choice.

Different shellfish samples were analyzed by Pre- and Post-Column Oxidation Liquid Chromatography to compare the toxins profiles and get information about the degree of accomplishment of both methods. Comparison of the results obtained, the linear correlation coefficient (r = 0.94) and the paired t test (two tails, α = 0.

How Safe Is Safe for Marine Toxins Monitoring?

Current regulation for marine toxins requires a monitoring method based on mass spectrometric analysis. This method is pre-targeted, hence after searching for pre-assigned masses, it identifies those compounds that were pre-defined with available calibrants. Therefore, the scope for detecting novel toxins which are not included in the monitoring protocol are very limited.

Liquid Chromatography with a Fluorimetric Detection Method for Analysis of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins and Tetrodotoxin Based on a Porous Graphitic Carbon Column.

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) traditionally have been analyzed by liquid chromatography with either pre- or post-column derivatization and always with a silica-based stationary phase. This technique resulted in different methods that need more than one run to analyze the toxins. Furthermore, tetrodotoxin (TTX) was recently found in bivalves of northward locations in Europe due to climate change, so it is important to analyze it along with PST because their signs of toxicity are similar in the bioassay.

Determination of Gonyautoxin-4 in Echinoderms and Gastropod Matrices by Conversion to Neosaxitoxin Using 2-Mercaptoethanol and Post-Column Oxidation Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection.

Paralytic Shellfish Toxin blooms are common worldwide, which makes their monitoring crucial in the prevention of poisoning incidents. These toxins can be monitored by a variety of techniques, including mouse bioassay, receptor binding assay, and liquid chromatography with either mass spectrometric or pre- or post-column fluorescence detection. The post-column oxidation liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection method, used routinely in our laboratory, has been shown to be a reliable method for monitoring paralytic shellfish toxins in mussel, scallop, oyster and clam species.

First Detection of Tetrodotoxin in Greek Shellfish by UPLC-MS/MS Potentially Linked to the Presence of the Dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum.

During official shellfish control for the presence of marine biotoxins in Greece in year 2012, a series of unexplained positive mouse bioassays (MBA) for lipophilic toxins with nervous symptomatology prior to mice death was observed in mussels from Vistonikos Bay-Lagos, Rodopi. This atypical toxicity coincided with (a) absence or low levels of regulated and some non-regulated toxins in mussels and (b) the simultaneous presence of the potentially toxic microalgal species Prorocentrum minimum at levels up to 1.89 × 103 cells/L in the area's seawater.

Influence of different shellfish matrices on the separation of PSP toxins using a postcolumn oxidation liquid chromatography method.

The separation of PSP toxins using liquid chromatography with a post-column oxidation fluorescence detection method was performed with different matrices. The separation of PSP toxins depends on several factors, and it is crucial to take into account the presence of interfering matrix peaks to produce a good separation. The matrix peaks are not always the same, which is a significant issue when it comes to producing good, reliable results regarding resolution and toxicity information.

Determination of toxicity equivalent factors for paralytic shellfish toxins by electrophysiological measurements in cultured neurons.

The establishment of toxicity equivalent factors to develop alternative methods to animal bioassays for marine-toxin detection is an urgent need in the field of phycotoxin research. Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is one of the most severe forms of food poisoning. The toxins responsible for this type of poisoning are highly toxic natural compounds produced by dinoflagellates, which bind to voltage-gated Na(+) channels causing the blockade of action potential propagation.

New protocol to obtain spirolides from Alexandrium ostenfeldii cultures with high recovery and purity.

The aim of this work was to develop a method to purify large amounts of spirolide toxins from cultures of Alexandrium ostenfeldii. The dinoflagellates grew in batches under controlled conditions of salinity, light and temperature. Analysis of the cultures demonstrated the existence of neurotoxins associated with paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins and two spirolides, 13-desmethyl spirolide C and 13,19-didesmethyl spirolide C.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin potency and the influence of the pH of extraction.

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is one of the most severe forms of food poisoning. The toxins responsible for this poisoning are natural compounds, which cause the arrest of action potential propagation by binding to voltage-gated Na+ channels. Several standards for PSP toxins are nowadays commercially available; however, there is not accessible data on the biological activity of the toxins present on this standards and their in vivo toxicity.