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A new simple screening method for the detection of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins

  • Biology
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Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current testing for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in shellfish is based on the mouse bioassay (MBA). To alleviate animal welfare concerns, we evaluated the utility of using sublethal indicators of toxicity as an alternative to measuring time to death. Live mice were injected with a PSP congener and the changes in neurotransmitter levels were measured 60, 90, and 120 min after injection. Acetylcholine (ACh) was the most sensitive marker for PSP toxicity. The changes in neurotransmitter levels were most pronounced in the blood. Thus, measurement of Ach levels in the blood may serve as a sensitive predictor for PSP that would not require sacrifice of the mice. This method was relatively simple, sensitive (less than 1 μg/kg weight, equivalent to 20 ng/mL), low maintenance, and rapid (less than 60 min).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Jinping Cheng  (程金平), Shuaishuai Pi  (皮帅帅), Yuling Song  (宋玉玲) & Lei Xi  (席磊)

  2. Key Laboratory of Marine Integrated Monitoring and Applied Technologies of Harmful Algal Blooms, Chinese State Oceanic Administration, Shanghai, 200137, China

    Shufeng Ye  (叶属峰)

  3. Shanghai Municipal Oceanic Bureau, Shanghai, 200050, China

    Haomin Gao  (高昊旻), Lei Yao  (姚磊) & Zhenyi Jiang  (蒋真毅)

Authors
  1. Jinping Cheng  (程金平)
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  2. Shuaishuai Pi  (皮帅帅)
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  3. Shufeng Ye  (叶属峰)
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  4. Haomin Gao  (高昊旻)
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  5. Lei Yao  (姚磊)
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  6. Zhenyi Jiang  (蒋真毅)
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  7. Yuling Song  (宋玉玲)
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  8. Lei Xi  (席磊)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jinping Cheng  (程金平).

Additional information

Supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (No. 2007AA092001-15), the Key Laboratory of Marine Integrated Monitoring and Applied Technologies of Harmful Algal Blooms, Chinese State Oceanic Administration (No. MATHAB20120101), and the Shanghai Municipal Oceanic Bureau (Nos. 2011-02, 2012-02)

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Cheng, J., Pi, S., Ye, S. et al. A new simple screening method for the detection of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 30, 786–790 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-012-1097-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-012-1097-8

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