Wild caught shellfish is both delicious, and a fun sporting activity to do. However, shellfish, including those that come from aquafarming, can cause severe poisoning. Bivalves are all filter feeders, and with filter feeding comes the tendency to accumulate and store toxins in their flesh. Bivalves are susceptible to toxins, and crab and shrimp farming and harvesting are susceptible to bacteria poisoning. Fish can also carry harmful toxins, depending how high up the food chain they are.
Toxins cannot be cooked out of the fish or shellfish, and some mollusks continue to store this toxin inside of their bodies long after the algae blooms have passed. Also, shellfish that are contaminated with these toxins look and taste just like uncontaminated (safe) shellfish. Toxins cannot be cooked out or destroyed by freezing the shellfish meat.
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning – PSP
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning are associated with bivalve mollusks, such as clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops. Because bivalves are filter feeders, the accumulate certain neurotoxins from the algae and phytoplankton they eat. If the algae is toxic, then the shellfish can accumulate the toxins inside the flesh. Red Tide and toxic algae bloom is a major cause of PSP in locally harvested bivalves. Symptoms typically appear from 10 to 30 minutes after consumption, and include nausea, tingling of the lips, face, neck, legs, and other extremities, shortness of breath, and a loss of coordination. It can be fatal if serious poisoning has taken place.
Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning – ASP
Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning is caused from eating shellfish that have high levels of naturally occurring domoic acid, which is caused by diatoms. According to the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN), ASP was first discovered in 1987 in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Contaminated blue mussels, caused 105 acute poisonings and 3 deaths. Not only does it cause severe abdominal cramps and vomiting, it gets its name from its disorientation and memory loss symptoms. It can cause renal failure, and in some cases death.
Diarrhetic or Diarrheal Shellfish Poisoning – DSP
Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning is caused by oakadaic acid during red tide. DSP causes severe cramping and diarrhea, along with nausea. Symptoms typically develop within 30 minutes of ingestion. While it may not be fatal, the resulting diarrhea can cause severe dehydration.
Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning – NSP
Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning is caused by brevetoxins and very similar to ciguatera poisoning, although less severe. These toxins caused by Florida Red Tide can be ingested or inhaled. This algae is found in the Gulf of Mexico and in the South Atlantic Bight. It affects both bivalves and marine animals such as fish and birds.
Vibrio Bacteria
Vibrio infections are caused from eating contaminated raw or improperly cooked seafood. The bacteria V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus are found naturally along warm coastal areas, and grow in the warmer months. The two different types of Vibrio infections have different symptoms.
From Foodsafety.gov:
- V. parahaemolyticus typically causes non-bloody diarrhea.
- In persons with liver disease, cancer, or another immune-compromising condition, V. vulnificus typically infects the bloodstream, causing a life-threatening illness. About half of V. vulnificus bloodstream infections are fatal, and death can occur within two days. In addition to transmission by raw shellfish, V. vulnificus can enter the body via a wound that is exposed to warm seawater.
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Resources:
“Annual Mussel Quarantine – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).” Mussel Quarantine FAQ. California Department of Public Health, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
“Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) from Okadaic Acid.” Shellfish Poisoning. Washington State Dept. of Health, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
“Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Nov. 2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
FAO. “Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP).” Marine Biotoxins. Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
“Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning.” Harmful Algae. U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
“Shellfish.” Recreational Biotoxin Closures. Oregon Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
“Shellfish and Seaweed Harvest Rules – Crab, Shrimp & Crawfish.” Recreational Shellfishing. Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
“Vibrio Infections.” Food Poisoning – Bacteria and Viruses. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.