title: Depuration and anatomical distribution of domoic acid in the surf clam Mesodesma donacium.
abstract: In northern Chile, domoic acid (DA) has been detected in several bivalve species. In Mesodesma donacium, one of the most important commercial species for local fishermen, no information is available on depuration, or on the anatomical distribution of this toxin and its potential use as a palliative measure to minimize the consequences of ASP outbreaks. Deputation of DA is very fast in M. donacium, and can be adequately described by means of a two-compartment model. The estimated rates for the first and second compartments were 1.27 d(-1) and 0.24 d(-1), respectively, with a transfer rate between compartments of 0.75. Having high depuration rates protects this species from being affected by Pseudo-nitzschia blooms for an extended period of time. Taking this into account, the time in which the bivalves are unsafe for consumers is very short, and therefore the economic losses that could result by the DA outbreaks in local fisheries should be moderate. In relation to anatomical distribution, at least during the uptake phase, the toxin was evenly distributed within the soft tissues, with a total toxin burden corresponding to 27%, 32% and 41% for Digestive Gland (DG), Foot (FT) and Other Body Fractions (OBF), respectively. Since the contribution of each organ to the toxin concentration is a function of both weight contribution and toxin burden, the pattern of toxin distribution showed the following trend: "all other body fractions" (OBF) > Foot (FT) > Digestive Gland (DG). Thus, the highest concentration of DA, with a contribution close to 72%, corresponds to the edible tissues (OBF + FT), while the DG (non-edible tissue) only contributes the remaining 28%. Consequently, in view of the anatomical distribution of domoic acid in M. donacium, the elimination of the digestive gland does not substantially reduce the toxicity of the final product and therefore selective evisceration would not improve their quality for human consumption.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Departamento de Acuicultura, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile. Electronic address: gmalvarez@ucn.cl.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Departamento de Acuicultura, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uribe
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (Xunta de Galicia), Apto. 13, 36620 Vilanova de Arousa, Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Regueiro
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (Xunta de Galicia), Apto. 13, 36620 Vilanova de Arousa, Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Salud Pública Ambiental, Secretaría Regional Ministerial de Salud, Región de Coquimbo, La Serena, Chile.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gajardo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Salud Pública Ambiental, Secretaría Regional Ministerial de Salud, Región de Coquimbo, La Serena, Chile.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jara
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (Xunta de Galicia), Apto. 13, 36620 Vilanova de Arousa, Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blanco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry*; D002677:Chile; D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; C012301:domoic acid; D007608:Kainic Acid
keywords: Anatomical distribution; Chile; Depuration; Domoic acid; Mesodesma donacium