Okadaic Acid as the Causative Toxin of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning in Europe

The 2008 Texas Dinophysis ovum bloom: Distribution and toxicity

“…No DSP-related human deaths have been recorded, and recovery time for intoxication is around 3 days (Blanco et al, 2005;Hallegraeff, 2003). DSP has been reported worldwide, with Southern Europe (Mediterranean) (Poletti et al, 1998;PavelaVrancic et al, 2002), Scandinavia (Kumagai et al, 1986;Godhe et al, 2002), Japan (Yasumoto et al, 1978), Chile, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (Nova Scotia) being the major areas affected (Hallegraeff, 2003).…”

Transplacental passage of [3H]-okadaic acid in pregnant mice measured by radioactivity and high-performance liquid chromatography

“…Okadaic acid is the main toxin produced by dinoflagellates, which can accumulate in the hepatopancreas of mussels and causes diarrhoetic shellfish poisoning in consumers. [4][5][6] This toxin is also a tumour promoter 7,8 and a specific potent inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A. [9][10][11][12] Thus, the toxic properties of okadaic acid have so far been attributed to its ability to inhibit the activity of these enzymes, which in turn affects intracellular processes as diverse as metabolism, contractility, gene transcription, maintenance of the cytoskeletal structure, receptor-mediated transduction signal, cellular division and ion-channel gating.13,14 Inhibition of other serine/threonine protein phosphatases, such as PP315 and PPX,16 may also contribute to the toxic effects of okadaic acid; however, to date little is known about the physiological or pathological roles of these enzymes.…”

Effects of the marine toxins okadaic acid and palytoxin on mussel phagocytosis

“…The consumption of these animals provokes diarrhoeic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in humans [9,10]. OA is a potent tumor promoter in inhibiting the activity of protein phosphatases type 1 and 2A [11].…”