Description
Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP) is caused by polyether toxins known as Brevetoxins. Brevetoxins (PbTxs) are produced by the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, which causes harmful algal blooms (HABs) know as red tides. The Brevetoxins are toxic to fish, marine mammals, birds and humans, but not to shellfish. Contamination of shellfish with Brevetoxin has been associated with the presence of harmful algal blooms in various parts of the world.
Mortality events attributed to HABs have been documented for fish, manatee, dolphins, and seabirds. In man, NSP causes dose-dependent symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, chills, sweats, reversal of temperature, hypotension, arrhythmias, numbness, tingling, bronchoconstriction, paralysis, seizures, and coma