title: Determination of DSP toxins: comparative study of HPLC and bioassay to reduce the observation time of the mouse bioassay.
abstract: The progressive increase of DSP toxic episodes in shellfish in the last few years has generated a series of criticisms centered on the suitability of the mouse bioassay as a reference method to regulate the harvest of mussels from the growth area. The observation time in injected mice is currently fixed in 12 h by the actual Spanish rules. The revision of this time period and the lack of a established DSP toxin threshold which permits the commercialization of mussels contaminated under certain levels, are some of the actual demands from the industry. In this study, the results obtained in a comparative study of DSP toxic mussels are shown using the HPLC method and the mouse bioassay. Based on these results, we consider feasible the reduction to 5 h of the observation times of the mouse bioassay currently established in the actual legislation, as well as the establishment of a DSP-toxin threshold of 2 micrograms okadaic acid/g hepatopancreas, which regulates the possibility of harvesting and commercialization of contaminated mussels.
authors: Anfaco-Cecopesca, Marcosende, Campus University of Vigo, Spain.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Vieites
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Leira
authors: L M
authors: LM
authors: Botana
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Vieytes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D004988:Ethers, Cyclic / Q000032:analysis*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D019319:Okadaic Acid; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D004988:Ethers, Cyclic; D008387:Marine Toxins; D019319:Okadaic Acid