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OAS accession Detail for 0000559, meta_version: 3. Current meta_version is: 13
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Title: Sampling for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning in commercial and recreational shellfish areas in Washington state marine waters, January - December 2000 (NODC Accession 0000559)
Abstract: The state of Washington routinely experiences
seasonal restrictions on commercial and
recreational shellfish harvest due to two toxic
phytoplankton syndromes, Paralytic Shellfish
Poisoning (PSP) and Amnesiac Shellfish Poisoning
(ASP), which is often referred to as Domoic Acid
Poisoning (DAP). The biotoxin that causes PSP
temporarily interferes with the transmission of
nerve impulses in warm-blooded animals, causing
symptoms in humans such as, numbness and tingling
of the lips, tongue, face and extremities,
difficulty talking ,breathing, swallowing and
muscle incoordinations. Symptoms develop quickly
(within 1-2 hours of consumption) and can result
in death. The species that causes PSP in
Washington state marine waters is Alexandrium
catenella. Alexandrium is usually present in
small numbers; however, when environmental
conditions are optimum, rapid reproduction occurs.
Filter-feeding shellfish can accumulate the
toxins to dangerous levels during these "blooms".
Domoic acid poisoning is caused by eating fish,
shellfish or crab containing the toxin. Symptoms
include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal
cramps within 24 hours of digestion. In severe
cases, neurological sysmtoms develop within 48
hours and include headache, dizziness, confusion,
disorientation, loss of short-term memory, motor
weakness, seizures, profuse respiratory
secretions, cardiac arrhythmias, coma and possibly
death. Domoic acid produced by marine diatoms of
the genus Pseudo-nitzchia, was first detected on
the Pacific coast in 1991 when several pelican and
cormorant deaths were link to domoic acid in
anchovies. The Washington State Department of
Health routinely monitors for PSP and ASP in
shellfish from areas throughout the state. Areas
are closed for harvest of molluscan shellfish when
PSP toxin levels are equal to or exceed 80 ug
toxin/100 grams shellfish tissue. Molluscan
shellfish areas are closed when domoic acid (DA)
levels reach 15 ppm in a composite sample of six
shellfish (this level was changed to 20 ppm in
2001), whereas Dungeness crab areas are closed
when DA levels reach 30 ppm in three of six
individual crab viscera.
1.2.2 Purpose:
The purpose of the Washington Department of Health
biotoxin monitoring program is to ensure the
safety of shellfish consumed by the general
public. This monitoring program serves as an
early warning system for marine biotoxins in
Washington states coastal areas.
Date received: 20010816
Start date: 20000103
End date: 20001227
Seanames:
West boundary: -124.76
East boundary: -122.217
North boundary: 48.9903
South boundary: 46.30074
Observation types:
Instrument types:
Datatypes:
Submitter: Adams, Nicolaus G.
Submitting institution: Washington State Department of Health
Collecting institutions:
Contributing projects:
Platforms:
Number of observations: 0
Supplementary information: Additional Contact Information: Dr. Vera Trainer,
Marine Biotoxin Program Leader, Northwest
Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Blvd. E.,
Seattle, WA 98112 USA. Phone #: 206-860-6788,
E-mail: Vera.L.Trainer@noaa.gov
Availability date: 20010816
Metadata version: 3
Keydate: 2001-08-22 14:19:31+00
Editdate: 2011-09-09 19:51:31+00