Causative organism of paralytic shellfish toxins other than toxic dinoflagellates

Abstract

Bivalve toxicity and the abundance of Alexandrium catenella were monitored in association with the toxicity of particles in seawater. During the bloom of A. catenella, bivalve toxicity increased, but no significant amount of toxins was detected in natural A. catenella cells. In contrast, particles smaller than A. catenella possessed a considerable amount of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSP toxins). These facts showed that unknown causative organism(s) of PSP toxins, of smaller size than the dinoflagellates, occurred during the bloom. -Authors