| Abstract
| - Azaspiracid Poisoning (AZP) is a new toxic syndrome thathas caused human intoxications throughout Europefollowing the consumption of mussels (Mytilus edulis),harvested in Ireland. Shellfish intoxication is a consequenceof toxin-bearing microalgae in the shellfish food chain,and these studies demonstrated a wide geographic distributionof toxic mussels along the entire western coastal regionof Ireland. The first identification of azaspiracids in otherbivalve mollusks including oysters (Crassostrea gigas),scallops (Pecten maximus), clams (Tapes phillipinarium),and cockles (Cardium edule) is reported. Importantly, oysterswere the only shellfish that accumulated azaspiracids atlevels that were comparable with mussels. The highest levelsof total azaspiracids (μg/g) recorded to-date weremussels (4.2), oysters (2.45), scallops (0.40), cockles (0.20),and clams (0.61). An examination of the temporal variationof azaspiracid contamination of mussels in a major shellfishproduction area revealed that, although maximum toxinlevels were recorded during the late summer period, significantintoxications were observed at periods when marinedinoflagellate populations were low. Although humanintoxications have so far only been associated with musselconsumption, the discovery of significant azaspiracidaccumulation in other bivalve mollusks could pose a threatto human health.
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