Phycotoxine

A phycotoxine is a Toxine produced by the Algue S, in particular the unicellular algae.

These toxins generally cause food poisonings, without there needing the presence of the germ. It is the case of toxins produced by the algae unicellular of the kind Dinophyta for example and which one find in the Seafood. These cases occur at the time of Efflorescence algale. The Ciguatera is a ichtyosarcotoxism, i.e. a food poisoning due to the ingestion of flesh of Poisson, contaminated by phycotoxines.

Types of toxins

Acid domoic
acid okadaïque
azaspiracides (diarrheal S)
Ciguatoxines
Gambiertoxine
Maïtotoxines
palytoxine (most toxic of the Poison S organic S)
pectenotoxines (Hépatotoxique S)
yessotoxines (without proven toxicity)

diarrheal toxins (in English DSP, Diarrheic Shellfish Poison), produced by Dinoflagellés of the kinds Dinophysis and Prorocentrum, whose type is the okadaïque acid. They cause diarrhea and vomiting quickly (into 30 mn at 2 a.m. after the ingestion of contaminated shells), reassigning spontaneously into 2 to 3 days, without after-effects. One associates with it the hepatotoxic pectenotoxines, the yessotoxines without proven toxicity and the azaspiracides diarrheal. The standards selected are of 160 µg/kg for the okadaïque acid and the azaspiracides, and 1 mg/kg for the pectenotoxines. One preferentially uses a biological test on mouse. These food poisonings are relatively common, on all the coasts, often with the changes of season (spring, autumn). paralyzing toxins (in English PSP, Paralytic Shellfish Poison), produced by Dinoflagellés of the kinds Alexandrium, Gonyaulax, Gymnodinium and Pyrodinium, whose type is the saxitoxine. They quickly cause after the ingestion of contaminated shells a brutal paraesthesia (into 5 to 30 mn) of the lips, face, arms then legs. Serious cases are announced with a driving incoordination, inconsistency, and a risk of death by respiratory paralysis. The standards selected are of 800 µg/kg for the saxitoxine. It is about the first known phycointoxication (retrospectively) in British Columbia (Canada) in 1798. Efflorescences of Alexandrium are located time with other the summer along the French coasts, but no intoxication was still declared in France. toxins amnésiantes (in English ASP, Amnesic Shellfish Poison), produced by the Diatoms of the Pseudo-nitzschia kind, whose type is the domoïque acid. They quickly cause after the ingestion of contaminated shells gastro-enteritis (diarrhea and vomiting into 2 with 24:00) then neurological symptoms, with cephalgias, confusion, confusion, and in the serious cases, amnesia, then mortal coma. The children and the elderly are most sensitive. The standards selected are of 20 mg/kg for the domoïque acid. Efflorescences the Pseudoone are regularly located the summer along the French coasts, but no intoxication was still declared in France. All the shells can be contaminated (oysters, moulds, Pecten), but also certain fish (anchovy), which poison the piscivorous birds then. cutaneous toxins, produced by Dinoflagellé Ostreopsis ovata, whose type is the palytoxine. It is about a neurotoxine likely to cause cutaneous irritations, fever and a respiratory embarrassment, the contamination being done by contact or inhalation of the spray (marine aerosols, charged in phycotoxines), and consumption of the fishery products contaminated. The species is benthic (in the marine sediments), but goes up on the surface for flowering, and the toxin can then concentrate in the food chain. There were some toxic episodes in Italy (1998), and an alarm in Marseilles in 2006. will ciguatera, produced by Dinoflagellé Gambierdiscus toxicus, whose types are the cigatoxines and the maïtotoxines. It is about a food poisoning by consumption of contaminated fish flesh (ichtyosarcotoxism). The alga multiplies on the skeleton of the died coral, and is grazed by the fish parrots. These fish can in their turn contaminate their predatory. The principal symptom is the " gratte" , intense cutaneous itching, with gastro-enteritis and a paraesthesia of the face. The spontaneous cure is more or less fast, with some time of the neurological after-effects. Often associated with others phycotoxines (palytoxine). It is the standard and well-known intoxication tropical seas, but of the cases however were declared recently in the east of the Mediterranean. Pfiesteria piscicida also releases from the neurotoxines. This disease especially becomes alarming in North Carolina where the Man poisons himself by consuming fish. The production and the fishing of the edible shells, in the majority of the countries, are placed under the control of an authority, responsible for the monitoring with marine water and produced shells, in order to guarantee the harmlessness of the food products (Maritime businesses and Veterinary services in France, with the technical support of the IFREMER). -->

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