High Levels of Tetrodotoxin (TTX) in Trumpet Shell Charonia lampas from the Portuguese Coast.

Pedro Reis Costa,Lucía Soliño,Ana Gago-Martínez,Susana Margarida Rodrigues,José Manuel Leão,Jorge Giráldez,Estefanía Pinto

doi:10.3390/toxins13040250

Pedro Reis Costa, Lucía Soliño + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13040250

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Abstract

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin, considered an emerging toxin in Europe where recently a safety limit of 44 µg TTX kg−1 was recommended by authorities. In this study, three specimens of the large gastropod trumpet shell Charonia lampas bought in a market in south Portugal were analyzed using a neuroblastoma cell (N2a) based assay and by LC-MS/MS. N2a toxicity was observed in the viscera of two individuals analyzed and LC-MS/MS showed very high concentrations of TTX (42.1 mg kg−1) and 4,9-anhydroTTX (56.3 mg kg−1). A third compound with m/z 318 and structurally related with TTX was observed. In the edible portion, i.e., the muscle, toxin levels were below the EFSA recommended limit. This study shows that trumpet shell marine snails are seafood species that may reach the markets containing low TTX levels in the edible portion but containing very high levels of TTX in non-edible portion raising concerns regarding food safety if a proper evisceration is not carried out by consumers. These results highlight the need for better understanding TTX variability in this gastropod species, which is critical to developing a proper legal framework for resources management ensuring seafood safety, and the introduction of these gastropods in the markets.

Highlights

Food-borne illnesses caused by seafood containing tetrodotoxin (TTX) are well known in East Asian countries and are primarily associated with the consumption of pufferfish and marine gastropods [1]
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin that blocks the conduction of Na+ ions by binding with high specificity to voltage-gated sodium channels in mammalian muscle and nerve tissues [6,7,8]
The trumpet shells were bought from a market in Olhão (South Portugal), without confirmation of the harvesting place, highlighting the risk for seafood safety

Summary

Introduction

Food-borne illnesses caused by seafood containing tetrodotoxin (TTX) are well known in East Asian countries and are primarily associated with the consumption of pufferfish and marine gastropods [1]. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin that blocks the conduction of Na+ ions by binding with high specificity to voltage-gated sodium channels in mammalian muscle and nerve tissues [6,7,8]. This mode of action can lead in extreme cases to paralysis and death by respiratory and heart failure. The first and only known TTX food poisoning case occurred in late 2007 when a 49 year old man consumed a trumpet shell Charonia lampas lampas bought in a market in South

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