PSP toxins profile along the Croatian Adriatic coast
Roje, R. (2010). PSP toxins profile along the Croatian Adriatic coast. MSc Thesis. Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (EMBC)/Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries: Split. 50 pp.
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) is caused by the saxitoxins, potent neurotoxins that cause paralysis and death in consumers of contaminated shellfish. This phenomenon may have serious health and economic consequences. Present study is the first attempt to determine PSP toxin types and establish a complete list of PSP toxins for Croatian coastal waters. 3408 samples of shellfish (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Ostrea edulis, Pecten jacobaeus, Flexopecten proteus) and ascidians (Microcosmus sulcatus) from 25 sites inside breeding and harvesting areas along the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea were sampled during July 2000 until December 2009. Preliminary PSP Mouse Bioassay test (AOAC Official Method 959.08.) showed the presence of PSP toxins for the period December 2008 through May 2009. In the present study, analysis was conducted by the Lawrence HPLC method (First Action 2005.06 AOAC Official Method) with pre-chromatographic oxidation of the PSP toxins and fluorescence detection for determination of saxitoxin, neosaxitoxin, gonyautoxins 2 and 3 (combined); gonyautoxins 1 and 4 (combined); decarbamoyl saxitoxin, gonyautoxins 5, C- 1 and C- 2 (combined); and C- 3 and C- 4 (combined). The aim was to establish an instrumental method for continuous qualitative and quantitative monitoring of PSP toxins accumulated in farmed animals to achieve required health standards according to Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004. We also tried to correlate the occurrence of PSP shellfish toxicity with the presence of causative phytoplankton species. Qualitative analysis showed the presence of the five following PSP toxins STX, dcSTX, GTX 2,3, dcGTX 2, GTX 5 and C 1,2. Quantitative analysis revealed STX and GTX 2,3 as dominant toxin types in these samples.
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