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PubMed1996

Three decades of tributyltin in the coastal environment with emphasis on Arcachon Bay, France.

This account briefly reviews the fate, bioconcentration and effects of tributyltin (TBT) three decades after its introduction into the coastal environment. Data on TBT-related events that occurred in Arcachon Bay (gastropod imposex, oyster recruitment failure, oyster shell malformations, concentrations in water and sediments) are revised and reinterpreted. Historically, TBT concentrations in the waters of the open bay seldom exceeded 1 ng Sn l(-1) in the 1960s, likely surpassed the range of 100 ng Sn l(-1) from 1977 to 1981 (years when no oyster spat were collected and the local shellfish industry collapsed), and decreased to about 1 ng Sn l(-1) in the late 1980s and early 1990s following legislation in January 1982 banning TBT use. TBT pollution is discussed in relation to the green tides that have developed in Arcachon Bay since 1982.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1992

Effect of chitosan on lingual hemostasis in rabbits with platelet dysfunction induced by epoprostenol.

Chitosan, a complex carbohydrate derivative of shellfish exoskeleton, is shown to enhance lingual hemostasis in rabbits treated with a known antagonist of platelet function, epoprostenol (prostacyclin or PGI2). Bleeding times were measured for bilateral (15 mm x 2 mm) tongue incisions in 10 New Zealand white rabbits. Using a randomized, blinded experimental design, one incision in each animal was treated with chitosan and the other was treated with control vehicle without chitosan. Extraoral bleeding and coagulation times were measured for each animal before, during, and after infusion of epoprostenol. Continuous infusion of epoprostenol increased mean systemic bleeding time 95%. In this platelet dysfunction animal model, lingual incisions receiving the experimental substance showed a 56% improvement in bleeding time in comparison with lingual incisions receiving control solution (P = .003).

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1989

Domoic acid poisoning and mussel-associated intoxication: preliminary investigations into the response of mice and rats to toxic mussel extract.

Consumption of cultivated blue mussels from Prince Edward Island was recently associated with episodes of gastro-intestinal and neurological distress. Extracts of the toxic mussels, tested in the mouse bioassay for paralytic shellfish poison, caused an atypical response characterized by scratching, convulsions and death. The present investigation shows that the domoic acid present in toxic mussels can produce in mice and rats signs identical to those induced by mussel extracts. These studies, preliminary in nature by virtue of the scarcity of domoic acid, gave ip no-effect levels in mice of 0.59 mg/kg body weight based on the behavioural response (scratching) and 2.4 mg/kg for death. These levels correspond to levels of 24 and 94 ppm in mussels. When administered orally doses of between 35 and 70 mg domoic acid/kg body weight were required to produce toxicity in mice and rats. This reduced toxicity is consistent with a lack of absorption from the gastro-intestinal tract: faecal excretion accounted for 102 +/- 17% and 98 +/- 12% (mean +/- SE) of the domoic acid administered to mice and rats, respectively. Since human intoxication occurred at an estimated 1-5 mg domoic acid/kg body weight, susceptible individuals appear to be more sensitive than rodents to the oral toxicity of domoic acid.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Induction of morphological transformation in BALB/3T3 mouse embryo cells by okadaic acid.

Okadaic acid is produced by several types of dinoflagellates (marine plankton) and has been implicated as a causative agent of diarrhoetic shellfish poisoning. Okadaic acid, a known tumour promoter in vivo, has been shown to promote morphological transformation of carcinogen-initiated BALB/3T3 cells. This study shows that okadaic acid is capable of inducing morphological transformation of BALB/3T3 cells in the absence of an initiator.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1996

Marine parasitology with special reference to Japanese fisheries and mariculture.

Marine parasites with special relation to Japanese fisheries and mariculture include various types of pathogens: those causing mortality, deformity, weight loss, etc.; those giving unesthetic appearances to the hosts; those which are zoonotic. Japanese mariculture typically utilizes net cage culture systems in coastal areas. Parasite invasion in such systems is more difficult to control practically than in freshwater facilities. The limited use of chemicals and drugs for treatment makes the situation even more difficult to handle. About five species of parasites from marine organisms are known to be zoonotic. This is closely associated with the Japanese tradition of eating raw fishes and invertebrates. Infection of maricultured species with zoonotic trematodes, cestodes and nematodes has not been confirmed. On a more positive side, attempts have been made to utilize parasites as biological tags to obtain information on host biology, ecology, etc. Recent trends in Japanese mariculture include technical improvement in seed production and importation of large quantities of various species of culture seedlings. Drastic increase in the supply of seedlings of selected fish species has resulted in changes in culture methods and created parasite problems on a much larger scale. International trade of live fishes and shellfishes has introduced parasites hitherto unknown to Japan. An efficient quarantine system to prevent and control introduction and spread of marine parasites urgently needs to be established.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

The first isolation of enantiomeric and meso-zeaxanthin in nature.

Racemic mixtures of (3RS, 3'RS)-zeaxanthin were separated into the three optical isomers, (3R, 3'R)-zeaxanthin (1), (3R,3'S;meso)-zeaxanthin (2) and (3S,3'S)-zeaxanthin (3), by converting to their corresponding dibenzoates and by using HPLC on an optical resolution column Sumipax OA-2000. According to this procedure, it has been shown that only (1) is isolated from higher plants, shellfish, starfish, sea squirt, sea cucumber and then examined; on the other hand (1), (2) and (3) are isolated from zeaxanthin fraction of shrimp, fish and turtle examined. This is the first isolation of enantiomeric and meso-zeaxanthin in nature.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

The Aquatic Ape Theory: evidence and a possible scenario.

Much more than other primates, man has several features that are seen more often in aquatic than terrestrial mammals: nakedness, thick subcutaneous fat-layer, stretched hindlimbs, voluntary respiration, dilute urine etc. The Aquatic Ape Theory states that our ancestors once spent a significant part of their life in water. Presumably, early apes were plant and fruit eaters in tropical forests. Early hominids also ate aquatic food; at first mainly weeds and tubers, later sea shore animals, especially shellfish. With the Pleistocene cooling, our ancestors returned to land and became bipedal omnivores and scavengers and later hunters of coastal and riverside animals.

Adaptation, Biological↗

PubMed1995

Aquatic ape theory, speech origins, and brain differences with apes and monkeys.

Humans and apes show clear differences in brain anatomy. In the human cerebral cortex, for instance, the areas that control the fine movements of the hand, the areas that control the breathing and speech musculature, and the association areas have strongly expanded. It will be argued that these differences are best explained by the aquatic ape theory of human evolution (AAT) and originated in our semi-aquatic past, notably in the adaptations necessary for diving and shellfish collection at sea coasts.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Domoic acid-induced neurovisceral toxic syndrome: characterization of an animal model and putative antidotes.

A rodent model of neurovisceral toxic syndrome induced by the neuroexcitant amino acid, domoic acid, is described, along with the activity of a putative antidote, the nonselective excitotoxin antagonist, kynurenic acid. Both an extract of contaminated mussels and pure domoic acid induced a characteristic syndrome including: sluggishness, scratching stereotypy, convulsions and death. Autopsy revealed gastric and duodenal lesions and peritoneal ascites. Kynurenic acid significantly obtunded these behavioral and physiological effects, particularly when given 60-75 min after the toxic insult. Probenecid, a blocker of organic acid transport, and tryptophan, a precursor of endogenous brain kynurenic acid, increased the time frame in which kynurenic acid exerted its protective effects. Kynurenic acid alone, in nontoxin-challenged animals significantly blocked cold-stress gastric lesions, significantly reduced basal gastric acid secretion and was protective to a lesser degree against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury. The murine model of domoate toxicity represents an inexpensive, reliable and sensitive biological assay for screening commercial shellfish for excitotoxin contamination. We are currently exploring kynurenic acid and other compounds for possible therapeutic use in both current and any future victims of neuroexcitant amino acid toxicosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Method for the identification of saxitoxin in rat urine.

Saxitoxin (STX) is one of several related toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. We used solid-phase extraction (SPE) and prechromatographic oxidation/HPLC with fluorescence detection to isolate, identify, and quantify STX in rat urine. STX recovery from urine with the SPE procedure was approximately 76 +/- 6.5%. The standard curve was linear between 2 and 50 ng/ml. The lower limit of quantification with the method was 2 ng STX/ml of rat urine. Preliminary results with i.v. administration of STX to rats demonstrated that this method can detect and quantify STX in urine.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Antibodies that react with the capsular polysaccharide of Vibrio vulnificus are detectable in infected patients, and in persons without known exposure to the organism.

In serious infections with Vibrio vulnificus, IgG antibodies to the capsular polysaccharide of the infecting strain were demonstrable in patient serum. It was not possible to show that persons with probable increased exposure to V. vulnificus (shellfish industry workers) had increased levels of antibodies to any one of three capsular types tested when compared with persons who would be expected to have had minimal exposure to the organism (Seventh Day Adventists). Antibodies that reacted with the capsular polysaccharides were demonstrable in persons without a history of V. vulnificus infection, suggesting that cross-reacting antibodies are present in the general population.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed1991

Biotechnology and aquaculture: the role of cell cultures.

Cell culturing complements recombinant DNA technology in the application of biotechnology to aquaculture. Cell cultures can be prepared from the three main groups of multicellular organisms in aquaculture: fish, shellfish, and seaweeds. These cultures can contribute indirectly to the successful farming of these organisms by providing basic insights into how their growth, reproduction, and health can be understood and manipulated. Finally, they can be a direct source of diverse biochemical products for use in aquaculture, medicine and the food industry.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Resistance of attached Escherichia coli to acrylic acid and its significance for the survival of plasmid-bearing organisms in water.

As previously reported, free organisms of Escherichia coli are sensitive to damage and killing when exposed to acrylic acid in water. The effect of the agent was greatest in distilled water, but there was a marked effect in effluent and seawater also. The effect was temperature-dependent, with organisms exposed at 4 degrees C being much less affected than those exposed at 20 degrees C. The above sensitivity was for free organisms, but those attached to glass beads were resistant to acrylate. This resistance applied equally to attached plasmid-free and attached plasmid-bearing organisms, but is likely to be more significant for plasmid-bearing strains because some plasmids studied here stimulated bacterial attachment. The likely significance of the acrylate resistance of attached organisms for enterobacterial survival in the aquatic environment, e.g. in the vicinity of shellfish beds, is discussed.

Acrylates↗

PubMed1995

A monoclonal antibody against tetrodotoxin that reacts to the active group for the toxicity.

A monoclonal antibody against tetrodotoxin was produced. Tetrodotoxin coupled with keyhole limpet hemocyanin was used as an immunogen to BALB/c mice. These mice had no clinical signs for the toxicity of tetrodotoxin during the immunization. The reason may be that the guanidyl group of tetrodotoxin which is an important group for the toxicity was hidden by coupling with keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The monoclonal antibody was highly specific for tetrodotoxin and had no cross-reaction to tetrodotoxin derivatives, paralytic shellfish toxins, keyhole limpet hemocyanin and crude proteins from various organs of puffer fish. Also, tetrodotoxin was neutralized in vitro by this antibody. From the fact that the structural difference between tetrodotoxin and anhydro-tetrodotoxin is recognized by this antibody, it was suggested that this antibody reacted with the OH-groups on C-4 and/or C-9 of tetrodotoxin. In addition, the results from immunization and neutralization tests demonstrated that tetrodotoxin became non-toxic even when one of the active groups of tetrodotoxin was coupled by a molecule.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Human, small round structured viruses, caliciviruses and astroviruses.

Epidemiological studies on SRSVs, human calicivirus and astroviruses have been limited by the problems of establishing them in cell culture and the inability to transmit them to animals or to use strains from animals as a source of antigen for diagnostic tests. The use of EM and the subsequent development of RIAs and EIAs in a few research centres has shown that they are a cause of outbreaks and sporadic cases of diarrhoea and vomiting. SRSVs have increasingly been recognized as a major cause of outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the community and in hospital wards. The symptoms of illness are generally mild and of short duration and patients seldom require medical attention. However, because of the high attack rates and large numbers of persons of all age groups involved, there is often considerable economic loss and disruption of services. Evidence is accumulating that polluted water, molluscan shellfish, and contaminated cold foods are major sources of infection. Recently a SRSV has been shown to be the cause of epidemics and sporadic cases of waterborne enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis (hepatitis E virus) which have occurred in the USSR, India, Mexico and Africa. Astroviruses and human caliciviruses are occasional causes of outbreaks of vomiting and diarrhoea in infants and the elderly which can necessitate the closure of hospital wards and cause considerable disruption. Symptoms are generally mild and of short duration and therefore the majority of cases are unlikely to be investigated by laboratories. Diagnosis of infections is at present limited to the few laboratories that have developed their own assays or have access to electronmicroscopy facilities.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Molecular and biotechnological approaches to fish vaccines.

Global aquaculture is projected to grow from 10 million to 20 million metric tons by the year 2000. To meet this projection, the aquaculture industry must bring some of its infectious disease problems under control without relying on antibiotics and chemotherapeutics. Thus, vaccines for fish and shellfish are being sought by the industry. The very first commercial fish vaccine was a killed vibriosis bacterin which was very effective and relatively easy to produce. Vaccines for other bacterial, viral, and parasitic fish pathogens are proving more difficult to develop and researchers have begun to use molecular and biotechnological approaches to develop such vaccines. This review describes the vaccines that are now available as well as the vaccines that are being developed and includes a discussion of live, attenuated vaccines, immunoadjuvants, and subunit vaccines for fish.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

["Iodine allergy": point of view].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this literature review is to suggest a diagnostic and a preventive attitude in patients having presented an immediate hypersensitivity reaction due to an iodinated drug. DATA SOURCES: Literature review. Data were searched in the Medline database from 1967 to 2004 in English and French language. Complementary references were selected from the bibliography of selected references or from authors' personal databases. The following key-words were used separately or combined: Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Allergy; Contrast Media; Povidone-Iodine; Iodine; Iodine Compounds; Iodides; Amiodarone; Seafood, Parvalbumins; Tropomyosin. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized studies, epidemiological studies, original articles, clinical cases, and letters to the editor were selected. DATA SYNTHESIS: The implication of iodine has never been demonstrated during allergic hypersensitivity reactions due to iodinated drugs. However, IgE-mediated allergic hypersensitivity reactions have been published with contrast media or iodinated antiseptics and will be described in this development. In a wider sense, allergic hypersensitivity reactions due to seafood are evoked because often improperly considered as a risk factor of allergic reaction to iodinated drugs. The allergenic determinant responsible of patient sensitization is not known for iodinated contrast media, but is probably due to povidone in case of iodine povidone. In fish, the allergen is described as the protein M. There has also been strong immunological evidence that tropomyosin is a cross-reactive allergen among crustaceans and molluscs (shellfishs). In case of hypersensitivity reaction occurring with iodinated drug, an allergological assessment is required to confirm the immune mechanism, to identify the culprit drug or substance and to identify cross-reactivity especially with iodinated contrast media. CONCLUSION: Asking a patient if he/she is "allergic to iodine" is a question that should be avoided because its significance is null. A diagnosis of drug allergy, essentially relying on clinical symptoms, biological tests and cutaneous tests, is required to take adequate preventive measures.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗

PubMed2004

Morphological abnormalities and sensorimotor deficits in larval fish exposed to dissolved saxitoxin.

The dietary uptake of one suite of dinoflagellate-produced neurotoxins, that are commonly called paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins, is known to cause acute fish kills. However, little is known about the effects of dissolved phase exposure and the potential sublethal effects of this route of exposure on early developmental stages of fish. Toxin exposure during early development is of particular concern because the embryos and larvae of some marine fish species may be unable to actively avoid the dissolved toxins that algal cells release into the water column during harmful algal blooms. Here we use the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model experimental system to explore the sublethal effects of a dissolved PSP toxin, saxitoxin (STX), on early development in fish, including sensorimotor function, morphology, and long-term growth and survival. Aqueous phase exposures of 229 +/- 7 microg STX eq. l(-1) caused reductions in sensorimotor function as early as 48 h postfertilization (hpf) and paralysis in all larvae by 4 days postfertilization (dpf). Rohon-Beard mechanosensory neurons appeared to be more sensitive to STX than dorsal root ganglion neurons at this dose. Additionally, exposure to 481 +/- 40 microg STX eq. l(-1) resulted in severe edema of the eye, pericardium, and yolk sac in all exposed larvae by 6 dpf. The onset of paralysis in STX-exposed larvae was stage-specific, with older larvae becoming paralyzed more quickly than younger larvae (5 h at 6 dpf as compared to 8 and 46 h for 4 and 2 dpf larvae, respectively). When transferred to clean water, many larvae recovered from the morphological and sensorimotor effects of STX. Thus, the sublethal effects of the toxin on larval morphology and behavior were reversible. However, zebrafish exposed to STX transiently during larval development (from 2 to 4 dpf) had significantly reduced growth and survival at 18 and 30 days of age. Collectively, these data show that (1) dissolved phase STX is bioavailable to fish embryos and larvae, (2) the toxin is a paralytic with potencies that are stage-specific for fish larvae, (3) the observed toxicological effects of STX exposure are reversible, and (4) a short-term toxin exposure can negatively impact the survival of fish several weeks later. Dissolved algal toxins may therefore have important sublethal effects on vulnerable species of fish.

Animals↗