An occurrence of neurotoxic shellfish poisoning by consumption of gastropods contaminated with brevetoxins

Abraham, Ann; Flewelling, Leanne J.; Said, Kathleen R. El; Odom, William E.; Geiger, Stephen P.; Granholm, April A.; Jackson, Jennifer T.; Bodager, Dean

doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.12.010

Cited by 20 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Finally, in March 2017, two people were admitted to the emergency room in Florida following consumption of gastropods (“horse conch” Triplofusus giganteus ) taken from an area affected by a prolonged K. brevis bloom from September 2016 to February 2017 [ 7 ]. In March 2017, K. brevis was not present, or was present at low levels (<10,000 cells/L), but the area had remained closed for the harvesting of bivalves.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on these detailed cases, NSP is caused by the consumption of BTX-contaminated molluscs, mainly bivalves (oysters, clams) [ 42 , 48 , 49 , 54 ], but also whelks [ 7 , 15 , 53 , 54 , 55 ]. The symptoms and their frequency are reported in Table 1 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6 Mydriasis: dilatation of the pupil. 7 Decerebrate posture is an abnormal body posture that involves the arms and legs being held straight out, the toes being pointed downward, and the head and neck being arched backward. The muscles are tightened and held rigidly.…”

Section: Hazard Characterisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…BTX-2 is the major analogue produced by K. brevis , while BTX-3 was reported at higher level than BTX-2 in shellfish, i.e., in oysters ( Crassostea gigas ) and cockles ( Austrovenus Stutchburyi ) in New Zealand [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]; in horse conch ( Triplofusus giganteus ), lightning whelk ( Sinistrofulgur sinistrum ), banded tulip ( Cinctura hunteria ), fighting conch ( Strombus alatus ), pear whelk ( Fulguropsis spirata ), clam ( Mercenaria spp.) and oyster ( Crassostrea virginica ) in Florida [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Humans can be exposed to BTXs through seafood consumption, inhalation, and cutaneous contact.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Guidance Level for Brevetoxins in French Shellfish

et al. 2021

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Brevetoxins (BTXs) are marine biotoxins responsible for neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP) after ingestion of contaminated shellfish. NSP is characterized by neurological, gastrointestinal and/or cardiovascular symptoms. The main known producer of BTXs is the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, but other microalgae are also suspected to synthesize BTX-like compounds. BTXs are currently not regulated in France and in Europe. In November 2018, they have been detected for the first time in France in mussels from a lagoon in the Corsica Island (Mediterranean Sea), as part of the network for monitoring the emergence of marine biotoxins in shellfish. To prevent health risks associated with the consumption of shellfish contaminated with BTXs in France, a working group was set up by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses). One of the aims of this working group was to propose a guidance level for the presence of BTXs in shellfish. Toxicological data were too limited to derive an acute oral reference dose (ARfD). Based on human case reports, we identified two lowest-observed-adverse-effect levels (LOAELs). A guidance level of 180 µg BTX-3 eq./kg shellfish meat is proposed, considering a protective default portion size of 400 g shellfish meat.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hazard Characterisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Guidance Level for Brevetoxins in French Shellfish

et al. 2021

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“…The HAB species and toxins involved are especially important in predicting environmental impacts associated with blooms. In many cases, e.g., K. brevis blooms, acute bloom impacts are well documented, while routes of toxin transfer are still being elucidated (Abraham et al, 2021). In other cases, e.g., other Karenia species, these impacts are yet to be determined.…”

Section: Hab Associated Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Florida’s Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Problem: Escalating Risks to Human, Environmental and Economic Health With Climate Change

Heil

Muni-Morgan

2021

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) pose unique risks to the citizens, stakeholders, visitors, environment and economy of the state of Florida. Florida has been historically subjected to reoccurring blooms of the toxic marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (C. C. Davis) G. Hansen & Moestrup since at least first contact with explorers in the 1500’s. However, ongoing immigration of more than 100,000 people year–1 into the state, elevated population densities in coastal areas with attendant rapid, often unregulated development, coastal eutrophication, and climate change impacts (e.g., increasing hurricane severity, increases in water temperature, ocean acidification and sea level rise) has likely increased the occurrence of other HABs, both freshwater and marine, within the state as well as the number of people impacted by these blooms. Currently, over 75 freshwater, estuarine, coastal and marine HAB species are routinely monitored by state agencies. While only blooms of K. brevis, the dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense (Böhm) Steidinger, Tester, and Taylor and the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia spp. have resulted in closure of commercial shellfish beds, other HAB species, including freshwater and marine cyanobacteria, pose either imminent or unknown risks to human, environmental and economic health. HAB related human health risks can be classified into those related to consumption of contaminated shellfish and finfish, consumption of or contact with bloom or toxin contaminated water or exposure to aerosolized HAB toxins. While acute human illnesses resulting from consumption of brevetoxin-, saxitoxin-, and domoic acid-contaminated commercial shellfish have been minimized by effective monitoring and regulation, illnesses due to unregulated toxin exposures, e.g., ciguatoxins and cyanotoxins, are not well documented or understood. Aerosolized HAB toxins potentially impact the largest number of people within Florida. While short-term (days to weeks) impacts of aerosolized brevetoxin exposure are well documented (e.g., decreased respiratory function for at-risk subgroups such as asthmatics), little is known of longer term (>1 month) impacts of exposure or the risks posed by aerosolized cyanotoxin [e.g., microcystin, β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA)] exposure. Environmental risks of K. brevis blooms are the best studied of Florida HABs and include acute exposure impacts such as significant dies-offs of fish, marine mammals, seabirds and turtles, as well as negative impacts on larval and juvenile stages of many biota. When K. brevis blooms are present, brevetoxins can be found throughout the water column and are widespread in both pelagic and benthic biota. The presence of brevetoxins in living tissue of both fish and marine mammals suggests that food web transfer of these toxins is occurring, resulting in toxin transport beyond the spatial and temporal range of the bloom such that impacts of these toxins may occur in areas not regularly subjected to blooms. Climate change impacts, including temperature effects on cell metabolism, shifting ocean circulation patterns and changes in HAB species range and bloom duration, may exacerbate these dynamics. Secondary HAB related environmental impacts are also possible due to hypoxia and anoxia resulting from elevated bloom biomass and/or the decomposition of HAB related mortalities. Economic risks related to HABs in Florida are diverse and impact multiple stakeholder groups. Direct costs related to human health impacts (e.g., increased hospital visits) as well as recreational and commercial fisheries can be significant, especially with wide-spread sustained HABs. Recreational and tourism-based industries which sustain a significant portion of Florida’s economy are especially vulnerable to both direct (e.g., declines in coastal hotel occupancy rates and restaurant and recreational users) and indirect (e.g., negative publicity impacts, associated job losses) impacts from HABs. While risks related to K. brevis blooms are established, Florida also remains susceptible to future HABs due to large scale freshwater management practices, degrading water quality, potential transport of HABs between freshwater and marine systems and the state’s vulnerability to climate change impacts.

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