Evidence for PSP in mussels in Trinidad

Herein we present the first evidence for the presence of Paralytic Shellfis h Poison (PSP) in Trinidadian waters. The toxin was found in a meat extract of the mussel, Perna viridis. PSP has not previously been demonstrated in the shellfish of Caribbean islands. The presence of PSP in Trinidad is ther efore significant in that it presents an opportunity to better understand t he dynamics of PSP and algal blooms in both a region and island environment not normally associated with PSP. P. viridis is not native to Trinidad, but rather originates from eastern As ia. It presented itself only recently in Trinidadian waters. Interestingly, shellfish consumption and algal blooms have had a long history of coexiste nce in Trinidad without any record of human intoxications. In this context, potential Public Health implications of finding PSP in a non-native shellf ish species are briefly discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.