Combined Effects of Temperature and Toxic Algal Abundance on Paralytic Shellfish Toxic Accumulation, Tissue Distribution and Elimination Dynamics in Mussels Mytilus coruscus.

Yunyu Tang,Haiyan Zhang,Yu Wang,Chengqi Fan,Xiaosheng Shen

doi:10.3390/toxins13060425

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of increasing seawater surface temperature (SST) and toxic algal abundance (TAA) on the accumulation, tissue distribution and elimination dynamics of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in mussels. Mytilus coruscus were fed with the PSTs-producing dinoflagellate A. catenella under four simulated environment conditions. The maximum PSTs concentration was determined to be 3548 µg STX eq.kg−1, which was four times higher than the EU regulatory limit. The increasing SST caused a significant decline in PSTs levels in mussels with rapid elimination rates, whereas high TAA increased the PSTs concentration. As a result, the PSTs toxicity levels decreased under the combined condition. Additionally, toxin burdens were assessed within shellfish tissues, with the highest levels quantified in the hepatopancreas. It is noteworthy that the toxin burden shifted towards the mantle from gill, muscle and gonad at the 17th day. Moreover, variability of PSTs was measured, and was associated with changes in each environmental factor. Hence, this study primarily illustrates the combined effects of SST and TAA on PSTs toxicity, showing that increasing environmental temperature is of benefit to lower PSTs toxicity with rapid elimination rates.

Highlights

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are growing into global environmental problems and have negative impacts on marine resources and human health [1,2,3,4]
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is generated through the ingestion of toxic shellfish contaminated by paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), resulting in people suffering from illness and death [5,6,7,8]
The enhancement of seawater surface temperature (SST) resulted in the reduction of toxicity levels and rapid elimination rates, while high toxic algal abundance (TAA) tended to cause more biotoxin accumulation and prolonged PSTs contamination

Summary

Introduction

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are growing into global environmental problems and have negative impacts on marine resources and human health [1,2,3,4]. Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is generated through the ingestion of toxic shellfish contaminated by paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), resulting in people suffering from illness and death [5,6,7,8]. Gastric lavage is regarded as the only therapy to treat the poisoning patients. There are about 2000 PSP incidence each year, accounting for 15%. Besides the high ecological importance of bivalves, they are important protein sources for human consumption, playing a key role in life. PSTs are detrimental to economies of the aquaculture industry and human health

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion