Marine biotoxins in shellfish – Saxitoxin group

Saxitoxin (STX)-group toxins are a group of closely related tetrahydropurines and have been detected in filter-feeding bivalve molluscs such as oysters, mussels, scallops, and clams from various parts of the world.They are mainly produced by dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Alexandrium: e.g.Alexandrium tamarensis, A. minutum (syn. A. excavata), A. catenella, A. fraterculus, A. fundyense and A. cohorticula.STX-group toxins cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in humans, characterised by symptoms varying from a slight tingling sensation or numbness around the lips to fatal respiratory paralysis.In fatal cases respiratory arrest occurs 2 to 12 hours following consumption of shellfish contaminated with STX-group toxins.More than 30 different STX analogues have been identified of which STX, NeoSTX, GTX1 and dc-STX seem to be the most toxic ones.The toxicological database for STX-group toxins is limited and comprises mostly studies on their acute toxicity following intraperitoneal administration.For monitoring purposes using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques toxicity equivalency factors (TEFs) have been applied to express the detected analogues as STX equivalents.Until better information is available the Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) proposes the following TEFs based on acute i.p. toxicity in mice: STX = 1, NeoSTX = 1, GTX1 = 1, GTX2 = 0.4, GTX3 = 0.6, GTX4 = 0.7, GTX5 = 0.1, GTX6 = 0.1, C2 = 0.1, C4 = 0.1, dc-STX = 1, dc-NeoSTX = 0.4, dc GTX2 = 0.2, GTX3 = 0.4, and 11-hydroxy-STX = 0.3. 1 For citation purposes: Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain on a request from the European Commission on Marine Biotoxins in Shellfish -Saxitoxin Group.The EFSA Journal (2009) 1019, 1-76.In the Commission Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 a limit value for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) of 800 micrograms per kilogram is given.In this opinion the CONTAM Panel adopted this figure as being expressed as µg STX equivalents/kg shellfish meat.

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