Accumulation and depuration of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins by purple clam Hiatula rostrata Lighttoot

Purple clams (Hiatula rostrata Lighttoot) accumulated paralytic shellfish p oisoning (PSP) toxins produced by a toxic strain of the dinoflagellate Alex andrium minutum Halim for subsequent study of toxin distribution during dep uration (detoxification by a nontoxic microalgal diet or starvation). The r esults confirm the data in the literature concerning the high toxicity of t he digestive. gland, and the depuration efficiency between feed with nontox ic microalgae and starvation is similar. The toxin profile of the purple cl ams was similar with that of Alexandrium minutum at the end of the exposure period; GTX4 and GTX1 were dominant. However, at the end of the depuration period, GTX3 and GTX2 were dominant. The non-visceral tissues were toxic a fter feeding with toxic algae. The toxicity was low and the profile were al so similar with that of the toxic algae. No PSP toxins other than GTX-1, 2, 3 and 4 were detected in the experimental period. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.