Paralytic shellfish poison (PSP)-Producing dinoflagellate and PSP-Infested organisms

Abstract

Paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) is produced by numerous microalgae species, mainly toxic marine dinoflagellates species of the genera Alexandrium , Gymnodinium, and Pyrodinium , and is accumulated in many species of Filter-Feeding organisms such as bivalve mollusks through the food chain. Besides these toxic dinoflagellates, certain freshwater cyanobacteria such as Anabaena circinarlis and Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae also produce PSP. PSP is transferred and bioaccumulates throughout aquatic food webs, and can be vectored to terrestrial biota. Fishery closures and food poisoning due to PSP have been documented in several vectors. Traditionally, only Filter-Feeding mollusks that concentrate these toxic algae are considered in monitoring programs for PSP; however, increasing attention is being paid to Higher-Order predators. Besides commercially important bivalves, other PSP-bearing organisms such as carnivorous gastropods and crustaceans have been reported. From the food hygiene point of view, it is important to summarize the role of marine organisms as vectors of PSP and discuss the need for surveillance to protect public health and ensure the quality of seafood. This chapter shows several case studies pertaining to management actions to prevent Food-Poisoning incidents by PSP accumulation in Filter-Feeding (traditional) and Non-Filter-Feeding (nontraditional) vectors of PSP.