Gymnodinium catenatum toxins from mussels (mytilus galloprovincialis)

Abstract

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in mussels contaminated by the Dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography, thin layer chromatography techniques and the AOAC mouse bioassay. Mussels contained sulfocarbamoyl derivatives of the saxitoxin, carbamate derivatives and decarbamoyl derivatives. The toxicity and composition in the toxins of the extracts from mussels were different depending on the pH used in the extraction of the toxins. No sulfocarbamoyl derivatives of the saxitoxin were detected in the extract carried out at pH 2. However, these derivatives should be dominant in extractions using lower acid concentration.