• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.268-277
• /
• 2019

Severe damages will result in human society, when several different critical natural phenomena coincide. One example relates to the resting cysts of Alexandrium species (dinoflagellates that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning), which are preserved in surface sediments throughout Osaka Bay, Japan. These cysts have been found to accumulate particularly densely in shallow areas in the inner parts of Osaka Bay, where a tsunami caused by an earthquake could occur any time. Damage by a tsunami could cause a change of the coastal ecosystems at Osaka Bay including the resuspension of surface sediments containing resting Alexandrium tamarense cysts and the subsequent redistribution of the cysts in newly deposited sediment. Under certain environmental conditions, these cysts could germinate and form dense blooms, leading to paralytic shellfish poisoning. Such a scenario could also affect other coastal areas, including the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.293-297
• /
• 2010

To prevent amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) resulting from the consumption of shellfish contaminated with domoic acid, the quantitative analysis of domoic acid is very important. We validated a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for accurate and precise quantification of domoic acid. A clear peak and the isolation of domoic acid resulted on injecting a 50% methanol extract of CRM-ASP-Mus-c mussel reference material using HPLC. The limit of detection of domoic acid under the established HPLC conditions was $0.10\;{\mu}g/g$, and the limit of quantification of the toxin under the same conditions was $0.25\;{\mu}g/g$. The intra-accuracy and precision for domoic acid in CRM-ASP-Mus-c were 90.7-95.7% and 0.28-22.25%, respectively. The inter-accuracy and precision for domoic acid were 89.1-97.1% and 1.7-4.1%, respectively. The mean recovery of domoic acid in methanol extracts from ten species of marine invertebrates was 88.6-1105.1%.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.76-82
• /
• 2005

We analyzed the paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins of the toxic marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense collected from Dadaepo and Gaduck-do in Busan and from Sujeong-ri in Jinhae Bay, Korea, in April 2003. We also analyzed the PSP toxin of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and oysters (Crassostrea gigas) collected around Busan and Jinhae Bay. PSP toxin analyses were conducted by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fifteen cultured A. tamarense isolates contained 2.78 to 57.47 fmol/cell, with nearly identical toxin profiles: major components C2, GTX4; minor components C1, GTX1, NEO; and trace components GTX2, GTX3, STX. PSP toxin contents were 0 to $492\;\mu{g}$ STXeq/100 g in mussels and 0 to $48\;\mu{g}$ STXeq/100 g in oysters. Mussels at Gijang and Sujeong-ri contained the most PSP toxin contents ($492\;\mu{g}\;STXeq/100\;g\;and\;252\;\mu{g}\;STXeq/100\;g,\;respectively$), exceeding the quarantine level ($80\;\mu{g}$ STXeq/100 g). Their dominant toxin components were C2, C1, GTX2, and GTX3; the minor components GTX1, GTX4, GTX5, and NEO were sporadically detected. Phytoplankton contained 0.774 fmol/L seawater and 1.228 fmol/L seawater at Gijang and Sujeong-ri in April. At that time, Alexandrium cells were present in the water column at Gijang at 2,577 cells/mL and at Sujeong-ri at 6,750 cells/mL. Overall, we found the high and similar PSP toxin contents in AZexandrium isolates and mussels, and a correlation between occurrence of toxic Alexandrium cells in the water column and mussel intoxification. High densities of toxic Alexandrium cells in the water column immediately preceded shellfish intoxification at Gijang and Sujeong-ri in April.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.154-159
• /
• 2013

The AOAC Mouse Bioassay method (MBA) has been widely used for routine monitoring of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) for more than 50 years. However, this method has low sensitivity and experiences interference from other components in the extract. Also, ethical issues have been raised against the continued use of this live-mouse assay. To establish an alternative method for PSP analysis, we attempted to develop PSP analysis conditions using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The LC-MS/MS analysis of reference material showed very reasonable accuracy, and the analysis time was just 15 min. However, the recovery rate of toxin spike samples using the LC-MS/MS analysis was 59.4-91.0%. We also attempted to remove the matrix effect using shellfish extracts, but recoveries of C1 and C2 did not improve. A comparison between the results of MBA and LC-MS/MS analysis revealed good correlations, with values of 0.8878 and 0.9211 for oyster and mussel matrices, respectively.

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

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.159-164
• /
• 2013

The mouse bioassay and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) post-column oxidation method are different methods of quantifying paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins. In this study, we compared their ability to accurately quantify the toxicity levels in two types of field sample (oysters and mussels) with different toxin profiles for routine regulatory monitoring. A total of 72 samples were analyzed by both methods, 44 of which gave negative results, with readings under the limit of detection of the mouse bioassay ($40{\mu}g/100g$ saxitoxin [STX] eq). In 14 oysters, the major toxin components were gonyautoxin (GTX) 1, -2, -3, -4, -5, decarbamoylgonyautoxin-2 (dcGTX2), and decarbamoylsaxitoxin (dcSTX), while 14 mussels tested positive for dcSTX, GTX2, -3, -4, -5, dcGTX2, neosaxitoxin (NEO), STX, and dcSTX. When the results obtained by both methods were compared in two matrices, a better correlation ($r^2=0.9478$) was obtained for mussels than for oysters ($r^2=0.8244$). Additional studies are therefore needed in oysters to investigate the differences in the results obtained by both methods. Importantly, some samples with toxin levels around the legal limit gave inconsistent results using HPLC-based techniques, which could have a strong economic impact due to enforced harvest area closure. It should therefore be determined if all paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins can be quantified accurately by HPLC, and if the uncertainties of the method lead to doubts regarding regulatory limits.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.137-142
• /
• 2013

To understand critical aspects of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in a chief area of bivalve production in Korea, seasonal variation in PSP toxins in bivalves collected from Jinhae Bay, Korea in 2009 was surveyed by the pre-column high-performance liquid chromatography oxidation method. We also confirmed the profiles of major bivalves such as oysters Crassostrea gigas and mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis in Jinhae Bay. PSP toxins in the bivalves showed remarkable seasonal variation. PSP toxin levels were detected from April to May in 2009, and the highest total toxin levels at all stations were recorded in May. The major toxins in bivalves were gonyautoxin [GTX] 1&4 and C 1&2; in oysters GTX 2&3 were also detected as major components. GTX 1&4, which showed the highest PSP toxin levels at each station, accounted for the highest proportions of toxin components in mussels and oysters (64.5-71.3% and 41.4-42.4%, respectively). It was also confirmed that the highest toxicity (in ${\mu}g$ saxitoxin [STX] eq/g) was derived from GTX 1&4. The highest total toxicity (in ${\mu}g$ STX eq/g) was approximately 2-8-fold higher in mussels than in oysters collected from the same station. PSP toxin levels in bivalves differed significantly according to the sample collection station. However, the profiles of toxins in the bivalves did not show significant differences during the survey period according to sample collection station. This study shows that PSP toxin levels in some samples from Jinhae Bay were above the regulatory limit in Korea during a specific period in spring.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.49-54
• /
• 2006

Cultured cells of the toxic Alexandrium tamarense were fed to four mussel species, Mytilus coruscus, M. edulis, M. galloprovincialis and Septifer vulgatus, to examine the interspecies and interlocality differences in the ability to accumulate paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins. Toxin content of A. tamarense cells varied during culture period. In contrast, toxin composition in the cell (C1,2, GTX1-4 and neoSTX) was constantly stable. In feeding experiment, the four mussel species collected from Geoje intoxicated after uptake of A. tamarense. Toxin content ($average{\pm}SD\;{\mu}g$ STXeq/100 g) of M. coruscus, M. edulis, M. galloprovincialis and Septifer vulgatus were $1,660{\pm}79,\;3,914{\pm}2,242,\;5,626{\pm}1,620\;and\;958{\pm}163$, respectively. Toxin profiles included C1,2, GTX1,4 and neoSTX as the major components, and dcGTX2,3, GTX2,3, neoSTX and STX as the minor ones. Toxin accumulation of three mussel species collected from Pohang, Geoje and Anmyon-do showed interspecies and interlocality differences. Toxin content ($average{\pm}SD\;{\mu}g$ STXeq/100 g) were $91{\pm}4,\;151{\pm}14,\;39{\pm}3$ in M coruscus, $189{\pm}1,\;231{\pm}11,\;206{\pm}15$ in M edu/is and $214{\pm}28,\;326{\pm}30,\;291{\pm}26$ in M. galloprovincialis in order of Anmyon-do, Geoje and Pohang.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.390-392
• /
• 2012

Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxins were investigated by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Okadaic acid (OA), Dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1), Pectonotoxin2, (PTX2) and Yessotoxin (YTX) in bivalves were quantified. OA were found in four samples; mussel Mytilus edulis (0.001 ${\mu}g/g$), Oyster Crassostrea gigas (0.004 and 0.001 ${\mu}g/g$) and manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum (0.001 ${\mu}g/g$). DTX1, PTX2, and YTX were not detected from all of the samples examined.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 2021

In this study, the variability in paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) by the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella (Group I) was analyzed under a variety of water temperatures and salinities. This dinoflagellate experienced optimum growth at temperatures and salinities of 20~30℃ and 20~30 psu, respectively. These findings indicate that A. catenella is an eurythermal and euryhaline organism. High toxin contents and toxicities were observed at low temperatures (10 and 15℃), where they were associated with low growth rates; salinity did not have any significant impact on toxicity parameters. Therefore, it is likely that A. catenaella contributes to the rapid intoxication of commercial bivalve when temperatures are ≤15℃. To better estimate PSP caused by A. catenalla, we suggest that the influence of various environmental factors controlling PSP should persist with other A. catenella stains and commercial bivalves.