Paralytic shellfish poisoning. A report of 17 cases in Cape Town.
An outbreak of 17 cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning in humans occurred in Cape Town during May 1978. The clinical features were typical and no deaths occurred. Efforts to correlate the severity of disease with the amount of toxin ingested, to demonstrate a protective effect of alcohol, and to demonstrate the immunogenicity of the toxin proved unsuccessful. The regional ecological effects are described. Continued monitoring for the presence of toxic dinoflagellates must be conducted, and the dangers of the consumption of mussels from the Cape west coast should be widely publicized.
D049872:Bivalvia / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology*; D002965:Classification; D004141:Dinoflagellida; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D012530:Saxitoxin / Q000276:immunology / Q000506:poisoning; D012621:Seasons; D057096:Shellfish Poisoning; D013019:South Africa
D012530:Saxitoxin; D000431:Ethanol