Department of Biology, Science Faculty, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4619-007 Porto, Portugal.
Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research-CIMAR/CIIMAR, University of Porto, Novo Edificio do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, 4450-208 S/N Matosinhos, Portugal.
Toxins (Basel). 2018 Sep 6;10(9):362. doi: 10.3390/toxins10090362.
Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are potent alkaloids of microalgal and cyanobacterial origin, with worldwide distribution. Over the last 20 years, the number of poisoning incidents has declined as a result of the implementation of legislation and monitoring programs based on bivalves. In the summer of 2012 and 2013, we collected a total of 98 samples from 23 different species belonging to benthic and subtidal organisms, such as echinoderms, crustaceans, bivalves, and gastropods. The sampling locations were Madeira, São Miguel Island (Azores archipelago), and the northwestern coast of Morocco. The samples were analyzed using post-column oxidation liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detection method. Our main goal was to detect new vectors for these biotoxins. After reporting a total of 59 positive results for PSTs with 14 new vectors identified, we verified that some of the amounts exceeded the limit value established in the EU. These results suggest that routine monitoring of saxitoxin and its analogs should be extended to more potential vectors other than bivalves, including other edible organisms, for a better protection of public health.
麻痹性贝类毒素（PSTs）是源自微藻和蓝藻的强效生物碱，具有世界范围的分布。在过去的 20 年中，由于基于双壳类动物的立法和监测计划的实施，中毒事件的数量有所减少。在 2012 年和 2013 年的夏天，我们共从属于底栖和亚潮带生物的 23 个不同物种中采集了 98 个样本，包括棘皮动物、甲壳类动物、双壳类动物和腹足类动物。采样地点位于马德拉、圣米格尔岛（亚速尔群岛）和摩洛哥西北海岸。使用柱后氧化液相色谱法和荧光检测法对这些样本进行了分析。我们的主要目标是检测这些生物毒素的新载体。在报告了 PSTs 的 59 个阳性结果，并确定了 14 个新的载体之后，我们发现其中一些含量超过了欧盟设定的限量值。这些结果表明，为了更好地保护公众健康，除了双壳类动物之外，还应该将贝类毒素及其类似物的常规监测扩展到更多其他潜在的载体，包括其他可食用的生物体。
