Monitoring and risk assessment of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in two estuaries at Chanthaburi province, Thailand

Abstract

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was introduced to monitor the Chanthaburi region in eastern Thailand to validate the presence of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). This study surveyed palynomorphs from the sediment, dinoflagellate vegetative cells in water column and PSP toxins in two bivalves namely oysters, mixture of Saccostrea sp. and Crassostrea sp. and blood cockles, Anadra granosa (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Chanthaburi and Welu estuaries. The survey did not detect toxic dinoflagellates cysts and the vegetative cells the causative agents of PSP in the two estuaries. In addition, the PSP toxin levels in the bivalves were negligible and thus safe for human consumption. Thus, the two estuaries were considered to be safe of PSP risk.