• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.366-372
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• 2009

This study looked at toxicity of Mediterranean mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, which had accumulated paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) from early March to late May 2005 at Jinhae Bay, Korea. Alexandrium sp. was observed in low densities (< 1,000 cells/L) at the beginning of the study in March, increased rapidly in April, declined rapidly and disappeared in May. Although low densities of Alexandrium sp. were observed in March, mussel toxicity exceeded regulation level ($80{\mu}g$ STXeq. /100 g). Peak PSP (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) toxicity in the mussels occurred during high Alexandrium sp. cell densities in April. Mussels toxicity decreased with decline of Alexandrium sp. cell density. Major toxin components identified were $GTX_1$, $GTX_4$, followed by $C_1$, $C_2$, $GTX_2$, $GTX_3$ and neoSTX. Trace or sporadic toxin components were STX, $GTX_5$, $dcGTX_2$, $dcGTX_3$ and dcSTX. Toxin component analysis from the middle to end of the study showed that $11{\beta}$-epimers ($GTX_{3,4}$, $C_2$) were converted into $11{\alpha}$-epimers ($GTX_{1,2}$, $C_1$) and started to determine STX.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.521-534
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• 2020

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) occurs when saxitoxin (STX), which is produced by harmful algae (dinoflagellates) and then accumulated in bivalve shellfish by filter-feeding, is consumed by humans. With recent advances in analysis technology, it has been reported that dinoflagellates also produce a variety of analogues such as the gonyautoxin (GTX) group and the N-sulfo-carbamoyl toxin (C toxin) group, in addition to STX. Accordingly, CODEX and the EFSA are stepping forward to manage STX and analogues as STX groups requiring safety management. In Korea, the occurrence of dinoflagellates producing STX analogues has already been reported, and contamination of analogues (GTX group, C toxin group) in live mussels has also been reported. In this study, in order to provide the basis for systematic monitoring and safety management of STX and analogues, their physicochemical characteristics, occurrence of dinoflagellates, toxicity and toxic equivalency factor, analytical method and occurrence were widely reviewed. This review is expected to contribute to strengthening the safety management of STX and its analogues.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to determine the kinetics of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) destruction at various temperature. The toxic digestive gland homogenate of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), PSP crude toxin, gonyautoxin group and saxitoxin group were heated at temperature ranging from 90 to $120^{\circ}C$, and then the toxicities were measured in samples heated for various time intervals. The rate constant (k) of the toxic digestive gland homogenate, PSP crude toxin, gonyautoxin group and saxitoxin group were $3.28{\times}10^{-2},\;1.20{\times}10^{-2},\;5.88{\times}10^{-2}\;and\;2.58{\times}10^{-2}\;at\;120^{\circ}C$, respectively. The decimal reduction time (D-value) of the toxic digestive gland homogenate, PSP crude toxin, gonyautoxin group and saxitoxin group were 70, 192, 39 and 89 at $120^{\circ}C$, respectively. These results indicate that PSP crude toxin is most heat-stable of 4 types of PSP toxins and PSP toxin are more heat-stable than food poisoning bacteria and spores. The retorting condition to reduce PSP toxicity below quarantine limit ($80\;\mu\textrm{g}/100\;g$ in Korea and America, 4 MU/g in Japan) could be calculated by rate constant. For example, the digestive gland homogenate having a initial toxicity of $200\;\mu\textrm{g}/100\;g$ could have toxicity below quarantine limit when heated at $90^{\circ}C$ for 129 min., $100^{\circ}C$ for 82 min., $110^{\circ}C$ for 48 min. and $120^{\circ}C$ for 28 min. These results suggest that commercial retorting condition ($115^{\circ}C$ for 70 min) in Korea is enough to reduce toxicity below quarantine limit from initial toxicity of $200\;\mu\textrm{g}/100\;g$. From these results, the quarantine limit of PSP-infested shellfish for canning can be level up to raw score of $200\;\mu\textrm{g}/100\;g$.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.175-183
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• 2004

The dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamiyavanichii Balech, a producer of toxins causing paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), has recently been considered as one of main organisms responsible for toxication of shellfish in Japan. In this study, A. tamiyavanichii was subjected to a molecular phylogenetic analysis inferred from 28S rDNA D1-D2 sequences and a species-specific LSU rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide DNA probe was designed to identify A. tamiyavanichii using the whole cell-FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization). The sequences of the 28S rDNA D1-D2 region of A. tamiyavanichii showed no difference from A. cohorticular AF1746l4 (present name A. tamiyavanichii) and formed a distinct clade from the 'tamarensis species complex'. The probe, TAMID2, reacted specifically with A. tamiyavanichii cultured cells, without any cross-reaction with other species belonging to the same genus, including A. tamarense, A. catenella, A. affine, A. fraterculus, A. insuetum and A. pseudogonyaulax. In a test of cross-reactivity with a field sample, TAMID2 reacted consistently with only A. tamiyavanichii, indicating that the present protocol involving the TAMID2 probe might be useful for detecting toxic A. tamiyavanichii in a simple and rapid manner.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.866-873
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• 2022

Growth rate and production of the paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin (PST) of a toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum (LIMS-PS-2611) isolated from the southern sea of Korea, were examined under various temperatures and salinity conditions. The maximum growth rate (0.28 day^-1) was observed under 25℃ and 30 psu. Optimal growth (≥ 70% of maximum growth rate) was obtained between 20~25℃ and 25~35 psu. Among the PSTs of A. pacificum, the principal toxins were C1+2 and GTX5 in N-sulfocarbamoyl toxin group, and minor components were characterized as neoSTXs in the carbamate toxin group. Maximum toxin content was observed under 20℃ and 30 psu, and the toxin content increased with the increase of salinity. Low toxin contents were measured under the temperature and salinity conditions of the maximum growth rate. Therefore, the PSP of bivalve, which occurs at a temperature range of 20-25℃ in June, might have been derived from A. pacificum.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.241-247
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• 2013

AOAC Mouse Bioassay Analysis (MBA) has been the gold standard for the analysis of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin (PSP toxin) for more than 50 years. However, this method has inaccurate limit of quantification and cannot be used to determine toxic profiles. An HPLC method (PCOX) was optimized for Korean shellfish to establish an alternative or supplementary method for PSP analysis and was intended to be used for the official monitoring and regulation of food. The recovery rate of the PCOX method was 83.5-112.1% and the limit of quantification for total toxin was about $8.6{\mu}g$/100 g. A long-term comparison study showed a good correlation of the PCOX results with the AOAC MBA results: the correlation factors were 0.9534 and 0.9109 for oyster and mussel matrices, respectively. The PCOX method may be used as an alternative or supplementary method for AOAC MBA to monitor the occurrence of PSP and to analyze PSP toxin profile in oysters and mussels.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.625-631
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• 2003

While phytoplankton diversity and productivity in the Southern Ocean has been widely studied in recent years, most attention has been given to elucidating environmental factors that affect the dynamics of micro-plankton (mainly diatoms) and nano-plankton (mainly Phaeocystis antarctica). Only limited effects have been given to studying the occurrence and the potential risks associated with the blooming of dinoflagellates in the relevant waters. This study focused on the appearance and toxicological characteristics of a toxic dinoflagellate, Alexandrium tamarense, identified and isolated from the Drake Passage in a research cruise from November to December 2001 The appearance of A. tamarense in the Southern Ocean indicates the risk of a paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) outbreak there and is therefore of scientific concern. Results showed that while the overall quantity of A. tamarense in water samples from 30meters below the sea surface often comprised less than 0.1% of the total population of phytoplankton, the highest concentration of A. tamarense (20 cells $L^{-1}$) was recorded in the portion of the Southern Ocean between the southern end of South America and the Falkland Islands. Waters near the Polar Front contained the second highest concentrations of 10-15 cells $L^{-1}$. A. tamarense was however rarely found in waters near the southern side of the Polar Front, indicating that cold sea temperatures near the Antarctic ice does not favor the growth of this dinoflagellate. One strain of A. tamarense from this cruise was isolated and cultured for further study in the laboratory. Experiments showed that this strain of A. tamarense has a high tolerance to temperature variations and could survive at temperatures ranging from $5-26^{\circ}C$. This shows the cosmopolitan nature off. tamarense. With regard to the algal toxins produced, this strain of A. tamarense produced mainly C-2 toxins but very little saxitoxin and gonyailtoxin. The toxicological property of this A. tamarense strain coincided with a massive death of penguins in the Falkland Islands in December 2002 to January 2003.