title: Development of a bioassay employing the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) for the detection of saxitoxin and related compounds in cyanobacteria and shellfish.
abstract: Monitoring paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) in shellfish and freshwater cyanobacteria is largely dependent on the mouse bioassay. An alternative assay was devised using the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria. The bioassay successfully identified the optimum extraction procedure for PST from cyanobacterial cells and was also suitable for screening acid extracts of shellfish flesh. These results demonstrate the potential of the locust bioassay for the routine screening of PST in a range of sample matrices.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McElhiney
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lawton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallacher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D000458:Cyanobacteria; D006110:Grasshoppers; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D008974:Mollusca; D012530:Saxitoxin / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D012530:Saxitoxin