The US FDA recently released an advisory about shellfish harvested from Oregon and Washington, as they were found to contain elevated levels of this toxin.
Every year a large number of cases of shellfish poisoning are reported around the world. The international seafood trade could be spreading marine poisoning more widely around the world.
Marine toxins are chemical compounds produced by certain organisms present in oceans, seas and other bodies of water. These organisms include single-celled algae, dinoflagellates, bacteria, and other aquatic organisms. These toxins can accumulate in bivalve mollusks (such as clams, mussels...), fish and shellfish. Bivalve mollusks, gastropods and crustaceans, many of which are filter-feeding species, are capable of accumulating high concentrations of toxins.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a major problem in coastal waters, particularly when they produce phycotoxins that accumulate in shellfish or fish, leading to poisoning of humans and animals. . Phycotoxins cause human poisoning with clinical symptoms ranging from intestinal effects to neurological effects, but can also cause respiratory distress or even death.
There are different kinds of marine toxins, the most common are:
1) Paralyzing Toxins: These toxins affect the nervous system and can cause muscle paralysis. The best-known paralyzing toxins are saxitoxins, which are found in bivalve mollusks such as clams and mussels.
2) Amnestic Toxins: These toxins affect the nervous system and can cause symptoms such as short-term memory loss and disorientation. Domoic acid is an example of an amnesic toxin found in bivalve mollusks and some fish.
3) Diarrheal Toxins: These toxins can cause gastroenteritis and symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Okadaic toxin is found in shellfish and fish and is responsible for food poisoning.
4) Neurotoxic Toxins: These toxins affect the nervous system and can cause serious neurological symptoms, such as seizures and paralysis. Ciguatoxins are found in reef fish and are responsible for ciguatera poisoning.
Paralytic, neurotoxic, amnesic, diarrheal and azaspiracid shellfish poisoning (PSP, NSP, ASP, DSP and AZP) and ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP). However, potential contamination of shellfish with tetrodotoxin or palytoxin is also a concern.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) has been widely reported in many parts of the world [3]. Paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) include saxitoxin and its neurotoxic alkaloid analogues. PSTs act by reversible blockade of voltage-gated sodium channels in excitable membranes, compromising the propagation of neural impulses in peripheral nerves and skeletal muscles. Filter-feeding marine life, such as clams, oysters, mussels, and crabs, can accumulate DA and transmit the toxin to humans and wildlife. Diarrheal shellfish poisoning (DSP) causes symptoms of gastrointestinal dysfunction, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Ciguatera fish poisoning (CP) is the most common type of food poisoning from marine biotoxins worldwide, with an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 cases per year.
In table 1 of the first link types and sources of toxins, poisoning symptoms and toxicological properties of shellfish biotoxins.
Every year a large number of cases of shellfish poisoning are reported around the world. The international seafood trade could be spreading marine poisoning more widely around the world.
Marine toxins are chemical compounds produced by certain organisms present in oceans, seas and other bodies of water. These organisms include single-celled algae, dinoflagellates, bacteria, and other aquatic organisms. These toxins can accumulate in bivalve mollusks (such as clams, mussels...), fish and shellfish. Bivalve mollusks, gastropods and crustaceans, many of which are filter-feeding species, are capable of accumulating high concentrations of toxins.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a major problem in coastal waters, particularly when they produce phycotoxins that accumulate in shellfish or fish, leading to poisoning of humans and animals. . Phycotoxins cause human poisoning with clinical symptoms ranging from intestinal effects to neurological effects, but can also cause respiratory distress or even death.
There are different kinds of marine toxins, the most common are:
1) Paralyzing Toxins: These toxins affect the nervous system and can cause muscle paralysis. The best-known paralyzing toxins are saxitoxins, which are found in bivalve mollusks such as clams and mussels.
2) Amnestic Toxins: These toxins affect the nervous system and can cause symptoms such as short-term memory loss and disorientation. Domoic acid is an example of an amnesic toxin found in bivalve mollusks and some fish.
3) Diarrheal Toxins: These toxins can cause gastroenteritis and symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Okadaic toxin is found in shellfish and fish and is responsible for food poisoning.
4) Neurotoxic Toxins: These toxins affect the nervous system and can cause serious neurological symptoms, such as seizures and paralysis. Ciguatoxins are found in reef fish and are responsible for ciguatera poisoning.
Paralytic, neurotoxic, amnesic, diarrheal and azaspiracid shellfish poisoning (PSP, NSP, ASP, DSP and AZP) and ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP). However, potential contamination of shellfish with tetrodotoxin or palytoxin is also a concern.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) has been widely reported in many parts of the world [3]. Paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) include saxitoxin and its neurotoxic alkaloid analogues. PSTs act by reversible blockade of voltage-gated sodium channels in excitable membranes, compromising the propagation of neural impulses in peripheral nerves and skeletal muscles. Filter-feeding marine life, such as clams, oysters, mussels, and crabs, can accumulate DA and transmit the toxin to humans and wildlife. Diarrheal shellfish poisoning (DSP) causes symptoms of gastrointestinal dysfunction, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Ciguatera fish poisoning (CP) is the most common type of food poisoning from marine biotoxins worldwide, with an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 cases per year.
In table 1 of the first link types and sources of toxins, poisoning symptoms and toxicological properties of shellfish biotoxins.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132400277X (2024).--
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/20/3/198 (2022).--
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379000512_Precautions_for_seafood_consumers_An_updated_review_of_toxicity_bioaccumulation_and_rapid_detection_methods_of_marine_biotoxins (2024).--
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01051/full (2016).-
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/ciguatoxins-and-other-marine-biotoxins