Evaluation of rapid methods for the determination of okadaic acid in mussels

Aims: Two different screening methods, a Buffalo Green Monkey cytotoxicity test and a biosensor test, have been considered to replace the official mou se bioassay in monitoring for okadaic acid (OA) levels in mussels. Methods and Results: Diarrhoetic shellfish poison-contaminated mussels from the Adriatic Sea were assayed in parallel by means of the mouse bioassay a nd both alternative methods. Both the cytotoxicity test and the biosensor t est showed high sensitivity (OA 0.01 mg g(-1) hepatopancreas and 0.002 mg g (-1) hepatopancreas, respectively) and a high correlation with the mouse bi oassay (r = 0.932, P < 0.001 and r = - 0.850, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Both methods are efficacious, quick, inexpensive and provide d ata on the amount of toxin present in mussels. Significance and Impact of t he Study: Both methods, besides allowing the simultaneous assay of a great number of samples, comply with the ethical need to reduce the use of animal s in the laboratory.