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 summe...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxins
Main Authors: Silva M., Rey V., Barreiro A., Kaufmann M., Neto A.I., Hassouani M., Sabour B., Botana A., Botana L.M., Vasconcelos V.
Other Authors: CIIMAR - Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: MDPI 2018
Subjects:
Rua
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10216/120522
https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins10090362
Description
Summary: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. The sampling locations were Madeira, São Miguel Island (Azores archipelago), and the northwestern coast of Morocco. The samples were analyzed using post-column oxidation liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detection method. Our main goal was to detect new vectors for these biotoxins. After reporting a total of 59 positive results for PSTs with 14 new vectors identified, we verified that some of the amounts exceeded the limit value established in the EU. These results suggest that routine monitoring of saxitoxin and its analogs should be extended to more potential vectors other than bivalves, including other edible organisms, for a better protection of public health. © 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Department of Biology, Science Faculty, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4619-007 Porto, Portugal; aldobarreiro@gmail.com (A.B.); vmvascon@fc.up.pt (V.V.) Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research-CIMAR/CIIMAR, University of Porto, Novo Edificio do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, 4450-208 S/N Matosinhos, Portugal; mkaufmann@ciimar.up.pt Department of Analytical Chemistry, Science Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; veronica.rey@rai.usc.es (V.R.); anamaria.botana@usc.es (A.B.) Life Sciences Faculty, Madeira University, Marine Biology Station, 9000-107 Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal Center of Interdisciplinary Marine and Environmental Research of Madeira-CIIMAR-Madeira, Edificio Madeira Tecnopolo, Caminho ...