PARALYTIC SHELLFISHPARALYTIC SHELLFISHPOISONING INPOISONING IN

ALASKAALASKA

ByByRaymond RaLondeRaymond RaLonde

University of Alaska FairbanksUniversity of Alaska FairbanksSchool of Fisheries and Ocean SciencesSchool of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences

Alaska Sea Grant ProgramAlaska Sea Grant ProgramMarine Advisory ProgramMarine Advisory Program

PARALYTIC SHELLFISHPARALYTIC SHELLFISHPOISONING INPOISONING IN

ALASKAALASKA

ByByRaymond RaLondeRaymond RaLonde

University of Alaska FairbanksUniversity of Alaska FairbanksSchool of Fisheries and Ocean SciencesSchool of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences

Alaska Sea Grant ProgramAlaska Sea Grant ProgramMarine Advisory ProgramMarine Advisory Program

THE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMTHE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM

Red tides do not mean poisonRed tides do not mean poisonRed tides do not mean poisonRed tides do not mean poison

Alexandrium cantenellaAlexandrium cantenella

•Dinoflagellate microalgae

•Generally eastern Pacific

•Chain forming

•Dinoflagellate microalgae

•Generally eastern Pacific

•Chain forming

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Anchorage

Fairbanks

Juneau

KetchikanSitka

Kodiak IslandBaranof Island

Prince of Wales Island

Kachemak Bay

Seward

ALASKA

PSP OUTBREAK LOCATIONS

PSP OUTBREAK LOCATIONS

ABOUT THE TOXINABOUT THE TOXIN

Saxatoxin

–The 24+ toxins are divided into three groupsHigh Toxicity Carbamate ToxinsModerate Toxicity Decarbamoyl ToxinsLow Toxicity N-Sulfacarbamoyl Toxins

–Toxins change form and toxicity through the food chainWithin the algae based on environmental conditionsWithin the shellfish based on their metabolismWithin the final animal that eats the shellfish

Saxatoxin

–The 24+ toxins are divided into three groupsHigh Toxicity Carbamate ToxinsModerate Toxicity Decarbamoyl ToxinsLow Toxicity N-Sulfacarbamoyl Toxins

–Toxins change form and toxicity through the food chainWithin the algae based on environmental conditionsWithin the shellfish based on their metabolismWithin the final animal that eats the shellfish

WHAT IS PSP?WHAT IS PSP?Biotoxin (24+ toxins)

Naturally occurring toxin One of several marine toxins Appear to be increasing in frequency Range is expanding Deadly toxin (~ 1,000 times that of strychnine) Sodium channel blocking, blocking nervous transmission

Biotoxin (24+ toxins)

Naturally occurring toxin One of several marine toxins Appear to be increasing in frequency Range is expanding Deadly toxin (~ 1,000 times that of strychnine) Sodium channel blocking, blocking nervous transmission

COMPLEX TOXICITYCOMPLEX TOXICITY

Toxin Chemistry complex Algae bloom process not understood Oceanography complex and variable Shellfish response differs by species

Toxin Chemistry complex Algae bloom process not understood Oceanography complex and variable Shellfish response differs by species

THE TOXINS AND SHELLFISHTHE TOXINS AND SHELLFISH

Toxin types specified by high, moderate, low toxicity formsToxin types specified by high, moderate, low toxicity formsShellfishShellfishSpeciesSpecies

High ToxicityHigh ToxicityCarbamate ToxinsCarbamate Toxins

Moderate ToxicityModerate ToxicityDecarbamoyl ToxinsDecarbamoyl Toxins

Low ToxicityLow ToxicityN-SulfacarbamoylN-Sulfacarbamoyl

ToxinsToxinsToxic algaeToxic algae GTX-III, STXGTX-III, STX B1, C2 B1, C2Blue musselBlue mussel GTX-III, GTXII,GTX-III, GTXII,

STXSTX C1, C2, B1 C1, C2, B1

Butter clamButter clam STX. GTX-II,STX. GTX-II,GTXIIIGTXIII

Littleneck clamLittleneck clam dc-STX, dc-GTX-II,dc-STX, dc-GTX-II,dc-GTX-IIIdc-GTX-III

SXT - SaxitoxinSXT - SaxitoxinGTX - GonyautoxinGTX - Gonyautoxindc-(STX,GTX) Decarbamoyl (Saxitoxin, Gonyautoxin)dc-(STX,GTX) Decarbamoyl (Saxitoxin, Gonyautoxin)C(1,2) and B(1,2) - SulfamateC(1,2) and B(1,2) - Sulfamate

THE COMPLEX CHEMISTRY OF PSPTHE COMPLEX CHEMISTRY OF PSP

MOUSE BIOASSAY THE ONLY APPROVED TEST

MOUSE BIOASSAY THE ONLY APPROVED TEST

TOXICITY WITHIN THE ALGAETOXICITY WITHIN THE ALGAE

Algae strain (varying toxicity) Environmental conditions

– Temperature Colder conditions cells are more toxicColder conditions less reproduction

– Ocean nutrientsLow phosphorus cells are more toxicHigh nitrogen more toxin produced Iron suspected as a requirement for blooms

Algae strain (varying toxicity) Environmental conditions

– Temperature Colder conditions cells are more toxicColder conditions less reproduction

– Ocean nutrientsLow phosphorus cells are more toxicHigh nitrogen more toxin produced Iron suspected as a requirement for blooms

Alexandrium CYST FORMATION

YoungGermling

New Motile Cell

Girdle

Gametes

Pellicle cyst

Planozygote Gamete Fusion

Sulcus Hypnocyst

Vegetative Cell Division

Theca plate

Alexandrium Life Cycle

Jan

uary

Feb

ruary

Marc

h

Ap

ril

May

Ju

ne

Ju

ly

Au

gu

st

Sep

tem

ber

Octo

ber

No

vem

ber

Decem

ber

Diatom Copepode zooplankton

Dinoflagellate Meroplankton zooplankton

PLANKTON CYCLES IN THE MARINE WATERS OF

ALASKA

PLANKTON CYCLES IN THE MARINE WATERS OF

ALASKA

OTHER NON-TOXIC ALGAE CAN CAUSE A RED TIDE

OTHER NON-TOXIC ALGAE CAN CAUSE A RED TIDE

EFFECTS OF WIND AND CURRENTSTWO POSSIBILITIES

EFFECTS OF WIND AND CURRENTSTWO POSSIBILITIES

Wind

River

Current

Freshw

ater plum

eInte

nse

Re

d tid

e

High toxicity

River

Wind Current

Freshwater plume

Disbursed Red tide

Low toxicity

Symptom Number Symptom Number

Paresthesias (tingling on skin) 113 Shortness of breath 29

Perioral (lip) numbness 64 Dizziness 28

Perioral (lip) tingling 61 Floating sensation 24

Nausea 45 Dry mouth 23

Extremity numbness 43 Diplopia (double vision) 19

Extremity tingling 39 Dysarthria (difficulty speaking) 16

Vomiting 34 Diarrhea 10

Weakness 33 Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) 6

Ataxia (immobility) 32 Limb paralysis 4

SYMPTOMS OF PSPFROM 143 CASES IN ALASKA FROM 1973-94

SYMPTOMS OF PSPFROM 143 CASES IN ALASKA FROM 1973-94

WHEN DO PSP OUTBREAKS OCCUR?WHEN DO PSP OUTBREAKS OCCUR?

0

5

10

15

20

25

Ja

nu

ary

Fe

bru

ary

Ma

rch

Ap

ril

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y

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ne

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ly

Au

gu

st

Se

pte

mb

er

Oc

tob

er

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er

De

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mb

er

Outbreaks (1973-94)

ALL COMMERCIALLY SOLD AND FARMED ALL COMMERCIALLY SOLD AND FARMED SHELLFISH HAVE BEEN CERTIFIEDSHELLFISH HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED

ALL COMMERCIALLY SOLD AND FARMED ALL COMMERCIALLY SOLD AND FARMED SHELLFISH HAVE BEEN CERTIFIEDSHELLFISH HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED

BUTTER CLAM/LITTENECK CLAMBUTTER CLAM/LITTENECK CLAMCOMPARISONCOMPARISON

BUTTER CLAM/LITTENECK CLAMBUTTER CLAM/LITTENECK CLAMCOMPARISONCOMPARISON

BLASHKE ISLANDSBLASHKE ISLANDS

DateDate Butter clamsButter clams Littleneck clamsLittleneck clams

13-Jan-0013-Jan-00 624624 7272

14-Sep-0014-Sep-00 112112 3434

03-Oct-0003-Oct-00 645645 3333

11-Oct-0011-Oct-00 554554 3333        

LITTLENECK CLAMSeldovia Bay

LITTLENECK CLAMSeldovia Bay

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8/19/97

BUTTER CLAM PSPBUTTER CLAM PSPSeldovia BaySeldovia Bay

BUTTER CLAM PSPBUTTER CLAM PSPSeldovia BaySeldovia Bay

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6/2/99

2/26/98

5/15/98

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IS YOUR LIFEIS YOUR LIFEWORTH 11WORTH 11¢¢

Blue mussels can becomeBlue mussels can becometoxic in half an hour.toxic in half an hour.

The FDA limit is 80 The FDA limit is 80 gg

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Date

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rogr

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gram

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7/30/90

8/20/97

9/28/00 8/08/03

8/04/05

80 ug

BLUE MUSSEL PSPSeldovia Bay

BLUE MUSSEL PSPSeldovia Bay

MOVEMENT OF THE TOXINMOVEMENT OF THE TOXIN

Algae

Viscera and Gills

Muscle

Gonad

WHERE AND HOW MUCH?WHERE AND HOW MUCH?

Location Date Adductor Viscera Gills Gonads Mantel

Akhiok June 35 2,298 221 301 340

Izhut Bay July 58 4,945 504 1,361 243

Swikshak Sept. <32 2,862 - 446 41

Toxin Distribution in Weathervane Scallop

ALTERNATIVE TESTING?The Jellet Biotek Altert KitTM

ALTERNATIVE TESTING?The Jellet Biotek Altert KitTM

Pluses Rapid (one hour) Accurate when test is negative No toxic chemicals Easy to use Inexpensive

– processing kit for 40 samples $120 and $20/test

Minuses Representative sampling May be too sensitive (measure

toxins) Not FDA approved yet Don’t know how it will be accepted

PREDOMINANT MYTHSPREDOMINANT MYTHS

Only red tides are toxicOnly red tides are toxic This beach has never been toxicThis beach has never been toxic Lip testLip test Toxic months are only those where there Toxic months are only those where there

is no “r”is no “r” Feed the catFeed the cat Cook the shellfishCook the shellfish

Only red tides are toxicOnly red tides are toxic This beach has never been toxicThis beach has never been toxic Lip testLip test Toxic months are only those where there Toxic months are only those where there

is no “r”is no “r” Feed the catFeed the cat Cook the shellfishCook the shellfish

FOR MORE INFORMATIONFOR MORE INFORMATION Marine Advisory Program

– http://www.uaf.edu/MAP/anch/raypubs.html

– E-mail me at: afrlr@uaa.alaska.edu

Web Pages– http://www.redtide.whoi.edu/hab/

– http://www.bigelow.org/edhab/

– http://www.wsg.washington.edu/outreach/mas/aquaculture/algalfacts.html

Marine Advisory Program– http://www.uaf.edu/MAP/anch/raypubs.html

– E-mail me at: afrlr@uaa.alaska.edu

Web Pages– http://www.redtide.whoi.edu/hab/

– http://www.bigelow.org/edhab/

– http://www.wsg.washington.edu/outreach/mas/aquaculture/algalfacts.html