Abstract
Ciguatera is a foodborne disease caused by the consumption of seafood contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs). Ciguatera-like poisoning events involving giant clams (Tridacna maxima) are reported occasionally from Pacific islands communities. The present study aimed at providing insights into CTXs tissue distribution and detoxification rate in giant clams exposed to toxic cells of Gambierdiscus polynesiensis, in the framework of seafood safety assessment. In a first experiment, three groups of tissue (viscera, flesh and mantle) were dissected from exposed individuals, and analyzed for their toxicity using the neuroblastoma cell-based assay (CBA-N2a) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses. The viscera, flesh, and mantle were shown to retain 65%, 25%, and 10% of the total toxin burden, respectively. All tissues reached levels above the safety limit recommended for human consumption, suggesting that evisceration alone, a practice widely used among local populations, is not enough to ensure seafood safety. In a second experiment, the toxin content in contaminated giant clams was followed at different time points (0, 2, 4, and 6 days post-exposure). Observations suggest that no toxin elimination is visible in T. maxima throughout 6 days of detoxification.
Highlights
Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) communities are strongly dependent on marine products for their subsistence and income [1,2]
Extracts obtained from viscera, mantle and flesh of control giant clams showed no toxicity as confirmed by CBA-N2a and LC-MS/MS analyses
Results of CBA-N2a analyses indicated that all the tissues of giant clams fed toxic G. polynesiensis cells, were able to retain CTXs
Summary
Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) communities are strongly dependent on marine products for their subsistence and income [1,2]. Roué et al (2016) [17] provided confirmation that giant clams should be regarded as potential vectors of ciguatera, in fishing areas frequently exposed to Gambierdiscus blooms These authors showed that T. maxima fed highly toxic cells of Gambierdiscus polynesiensis were able to bio-accumulate algal CTXs, at concentrations well above the safety limit commonly recommended for human consumption in the Pacific region. Did not provide any information about the detoxification time for CTXs in giant clams Such information has significant public health implications and may help identify practical measures to limit the risk of poisoning among consumers, e.g., by removing the contaminated tissues and/or issuing a quarantine period within distribution channels whenever necessary. Detection of CTXs in samples was achieved using the CBA-N2a and liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses
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