title: Occurrence of Harmful Algal Species and Shellfish Toxicity in Sardinia (Italy).
abstract: Sardinia (Italy, north-western Mediterranean) is a commercially important producer of edible bivalve molluscs. Since the early 2000s, it was subjected to recurring cases of mussel farm closures due to toxic algal poison. Here, we present the studies on toxin concentrations and the associated potentially toxic phytoplankton distribution and abundances carried out by a regular monitoring programme in Sardinian shellfish areas, from January to May 2015. Diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins were detected in several bivalve molluscs samples, while paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins were present just once, without exceeding the legal limits. Potentially toxic algal species have been constantly present.Pseudo-nitzschiaspecies were present during the entire study often with high abundances, whileDinophysisspecies reached high densities sporadically. Among PSP phytoplankton, onlyAlexandrium minutumHalim was found. The data obtained in this study showed an increase in the DSP toxicity in mussels in Sardinia. No clear relation between the occurrence of toxins in shellfish and the presence of potentially toxic algal species was found, although a slight correlation between DSP toxins andDinophysisspecies could be supported.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Sardinia , Sassari.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bazzoni
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Sardinia , Sassari.
authors.forename: Alessandro Graziano
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Mudadu
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Sardinia , Sassari.
authors.forename: Giuseppa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lorenzoni
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Sardinia , Sassari.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arras
authors.affiliation: University of Sassari , Sassari.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lugliè
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Piedmont, Liguria and Valle D'Aosta , Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vivaldi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Piedmont, Liguria and Valle D'Aosta , Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cicotelli
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Sardinia , Sassari.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Sardinia , Sassari.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tedde
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Sardinia , Sassari.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ledda
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Piedmont, Liguria and Valle D'Aosta , Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alesso
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Sardinia , Sassari.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marongiu
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Sardinia , Sassari.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Virgilio
keywords: Biotoxins; Mediterranean; Potentially toxic microalgae; Shellfish farms