Detection of a proteinaceous toxin in the brackishwater clam ( Corbicula japonica)

Abstract

Water extracts from the brackishwater clam ( Corbicula japonica) were found to be lethal to mice upon i.v. injection. Muscular tissues (foot muscle, adductor muscle, mantle muscle, mantle and siphon) were all toxic while gill and viscera (mid-gut gland, testis and ovary) were nontoxic; the highest toxicity was observed with foot muscle. The toxin was judged to be a thermolabile, basic protein with a mol. wt of about 13,000.