Occurrence of tetrodotoxin in bivalves and gastropods from harvesting areas and other natural spaces in Spain

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin that is receiving increasing interest in the European Union because it has been found in different fishery products (fish, bivalves and gastropods) captured in European waters. Since available information is scarce, further analytical data regarding the incidence of this toxin in European fishery products is needed in order to perform an appropriate risk assessment devoted to protecting consumers’ health. Hence, samples of bivalves and gastropods were collected at different points of the Spanish coast and analyzed by high-performance hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) to evaluate the presence of TTX. None of the analyzed samples showed TTX above an internal threshold of 10 µg/kg or even showed a peak under it. Our results on TTX occurrence obtained in bivalve molluscs and gastropods did not show, at least in the studied areas, a risk for public health. However, taking into account previous positive results obtained by other research groups, and since we did not detect TTX in our samples, a more completed study increasing sampling frequency is needed to ensure proper risk evaluation towards the food safety of these products.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Caracterización de la respuesta citotóxica de la pectenotoxina-2 (PTX-2) en dos modelos celulares humanos: células de neuroblastoma y células Caco-2

[ESP] La presencia de pectenotoxinas (PTX) en los moluscos fue descubierta debido a su elevada toxicidad aguda en el bioensayo en ratón mediante inyección intraperitoneal de extractos lipofílicos. Los estudios en animales indican que son mucho menos potentes vía oral y que no inducen diarrea. En este trabajo, hemos caracterizado la respuesta citotóxica de la PTX-2 in vitro en dos líneas celulares, las células de Caco-2 y las células de neuroblastoma, incluyendo marcadores de citotoxicidad y de apoptosis. Hemos evaluado los potentes cambios estructurales que provoca la PTX-2 sobre ambos modelos celulares, el desprendimiento del sustrato, el redondeamiento celular y los cambios en el citoesqueleto, así como la integridad de la membrana plasmática que no se ve afectada por la PTX-2 en ninguna de las líneas celulares estudiadas. Por otro lado, hemos abordado el estudio de distintos marcadores de apoptosis: potencial de membrana de mitocondria, fragmentación del DNA y activación de caspasas. Entre ellos el que más se ve afectado por el tratamiento celular con la PTX-2 es el potencial de membrana de mitocondria, mientras que otros marcadores o no se ven afectados o el efecto es poco relevante.Este trabajo se financió con fondos de los proyectos AGL-2004- 08268-C02-01/ALI y REN-2003-06598-C02-02 del Ministerio de Ciencia y Teconologí

Disminución del contenido en ácido domoico en vieiras (Pecten maximus) mediante un proceso fácilmente aplicable en la industria transformadora

[ESP] La incidencia económica de las mareas rojas con toxicidad ASP (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) es especialmente trágica en el sector de la vieira (Pecten maximus) debido a su baja tasa de detoxificación natural. El ácido domoico se acumula mayoritariamente en el hepatopáncreas de este molusco. Por ello, la normativa comunitaria actual permite la ablación del hepatopáncreas para disminuir la toxicidad, si bien exige garantías de que este procedimiento consiga disminuir la concentración de toxina en la parte comestible hasta niveles tolerables. Por otra parte, existe normativa específica para la disminución de la toxicidad PSP (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) en el corruco o langostillo (Acanthocardia tubercu- latum). En este trabajo hemos estudiado el efecto de la combinación de ambos procedimientos sobre la toxicidad ASP en vieiras. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que la combinación de ambos métodos es más efectiva que la ablación por sí sola y que puede suponer una alternativa para disminuir el efecto económico negativo de la toxicidad ASP sobre el sector de la vieira.Este trabajo se financió con los fondos del proyecto PGIDIT06RMA00804CT de la Xunta de Galicia

Detoxification of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins in naturally contaminated mussels, clams and scallops by an industrial procedure

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) episodes cause important economic impacts due to closure of shellfish production areas in order to protect human health. These closures, if are frequent and persistent, can seriously affect shellfish producers and the seafood industry, among others. In this study, we have developed an alternative processing method for bivalves with PSP content above the legal limit, which allows reducing toxicity to acceptable levels. A modification of the PSP detoxifying procedure stablished by Decision 96/77/EC of the European Union in Acanthocardia tuberculatum, was developed and implemented for PSP elimination in other bivalves species. The procedure was applied to 6 batches of mussels, 2 batches of clams and 2 batches of scallops, achieving detoxification rates of around 85%. A viable industrial protocol which allows the transformation of a product at risk into a safe product was developed. Although a significant reduction was obtained, in a sample circa 9000 μg STX diHCl equiv/kg, the final toxin level in these highly toxic mussels did not fall below the European limit. The processing protocol described may be applied efficiently to mussels, clams and scallops and it may be a major solution to counteract the closure of shellfish harvesting areas, especially if persistent.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Evidencia de Yessotoxinas en mejillón (Mytilus galloprovincialis) de la Bahía de Alfacs, Delta del Ebro

7 pages, 1 table, 2 figuresDurante el invierno de 2007 se ha registrado un importante episodio de presencia de yesotoxina (YTX) en mejillones de la bahía de Alfacs, Tarragona. Durante este episodio, se detectó YTX en muestras de mejillón repartidas por los diferentes puntos del polígono de producción coincidiendo con una proliferación de Protoceratium reticulatum que alcanzó un máximo de 2.000 células L -1. Considerando las evidencias previas de presencia de YTX en la zona, y con el fin de mejorar la evaluación de toxinas lipofílicas en bivalvos, se ha procedido a implementar el bioensayo ratón específico para discriminar YTXs de otras t oxinas lipofílicas y se han analizado muestras por cromatografía de líquido acoplada a espectrometría de masas. Si bien se habían identificado con anerioridad YTXs en mejillón en esta zona y proliferaciones de P. reticulatum incluso a densidades más altas que las registradas en el evento descrito, este episodio constituye la primera evidencia en Catalunya de presencia de YTX con implicaciones claras en el programa de vigilancia de toxinas diarreicas en bivalvosEste trabajo ha sido financiado por la Generalitat de Catalunya y por el INIA (Proyectos ACU-02-005 y RTA2006-00103-00-00)N

Semi-industrial development of nutritious and healthy seafood dishes from sustainable species

This study aimed to devise innovative, tailor-made, appealing, tasty and semi-industrialized dishes, using sustainable and under-utilized seafood species (bib, common dab, common carp, blue mussel and blue whiting), that can meet the specific nutritional and functional needs of children (8-10-years), pregnant women (20-40-years) and seniors (≥60-years). Hence, contests were organised among cooking schools from 6 European countries and the best recipes/dishes were reformulated, semi-industrially produced and chemically and microbiologically evaluated. The dishes intended for: (i) children and pregnant women had EPA + DHA and I levels that reached the target quantities, supporting the claim as "high in I"; and (ii) seniors were "high in protein" (24.8%-Soup_S and 34.0%-Balls_S of the energy was provided by proteins), "high in vitamin B12", and had Na contents (≤0.4%) below the defined limit. All dishes reached the vitamin D target value. Sausages_C, Roulade_P, Fillet_P and Balls_S had a well-balanced protein/fat ratio. Roulade_P presented the highest n-3 PUFA/n-6 PUFA ratio (3.3), while Sausages_C the lowest SFA/UNS ratio (0.2). Dishes were considered safe based on different parameters (e.g. Hg-T, PBDEs, Escherichia coli). All represent dietary sources contributing to meet the reference intakes of target nutrients (33->100%), providing valuable options to overcome nutritional and functional imbalances of the three groups.This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. 773400 (SEAFOODTOMORROW). This work was also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CEX 2018-000794-S), the Generalitat de Catalunya (Consolidated Research Group Water and Soil Quality Unit 2017 SGR 1404) and Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES) through national funds (UID/QUI/50006/2019, UIDB/50006/2020, UIDP/50006/2020, UIDB/04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020). The authors also thank FCT and the European Union's H2020 Research and Innovation Programme for funding through the project Systemic - An integrated approach to the challenge of sustainable food systems: adaptive and mitigatory strategies to address climate change and malnutrition. Sara Cunha also acknowledges FCT for the IF/01616/2015 contract. Biotage is acknowledged for providing SPE cartridges and Bekolut for the QuEChERS kits. This output reflects the views only of the author(s), and the European Union cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.Peer reviewe

Detection of foodborne pathogens by qPCR: A practical approach for food industry applications

Microbiological analysis of food is an integrated part of microbial safety management in the food chain. Monitoring and controlling foodborne pathogens are traditionally carried out by conventional microbiological methods based on culture-dependent approaches in control laboratories and private companies. However, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has revolutionized microbiological analysis allowing detection of pathogenic microorganisms in food, without the necessity of classical isolation and identification. However, at present, PCR and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) are essential analytical tools for researchers working in the field of foodborne pathogens. This manuscript reviews recently described qPCR methods applied for foodborne bacteria detection, serving as economical, safe, and reliable alternatives for application in the food industry and control laboratories. Multiplex qPCR, which allows the simultaneous detection of more than one pathogen in one single reaction, saving considerable effort, time, and money, is emphasized in the article

Quality loss assessment of ready-to-eat seafood products marketed in Spain under refrigerated conditions

4 páginas, 3 tablas.-- Póster presentado al 6th CIGR Section VI International Symposium “Towards a Sustainable Food Chain” Food Process, Bioprocessing and Food Quality Management. Nantes, France - April 18-20, 2011This research focuses the quality loss assessment of three different ready-to-eat fish foods (tuna burger, TB; salmon burger, SB; cod mousse, CM) obtained in a local market and kept under refrigerated (4ºC) conditions up to 60 days. Different and complementary analytical methods were applied such as sensory (general aspect, consistency, colour, odour and texture), microbiological (TVC, coliform bacteria, aerobic spores, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Shigella, Clostridium, coagulase positive Staphylococci and E. coli), physical (colour and water holding capacity) and chemical (lipid hydrolysis and oxidation and non-protein nitrogen compound). Results from sensory analyses showed good values for all samples during the period of study. Microbiological results showed an increasing content in aerobic spore forming bacteria with storage, mainly in TB and SB products. Within the pathogens group, L. monocytogenes was detected in all the SB products analysed. Microbiological activity led to increasing total volatile amine and trimethylamine contents in SB and CM products with storage time. Regarding physical changes, a slight increase in a* and b* colour parameters could be observed for TB and SB products, while a slight increase was obtained for L value in CM-samples; further, an increasing texture value was obtained in the case of the SB product. Concerning chemical changes, a marked lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS; fluorescent compound formation, FCF) was detected in all products with storage time; peroxide content was also shown to increase for CM product. Throughout the refrigerated storage, sensory assessment did not prove significant differences in any of the three products, so that acceptable quality was maintained till their respective expiry dates.The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the Dirección de I+D+I de la Xunta de Galicia (Galicia, Spain; Project 09 TAL 002 CT)

Occurrence of Tetrodotoxin in Bivalves and Gastropods from Harvesting Areas and Other Natural Spaces in Spain

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin that is receiving increasing interest in the European Union because it has been found in different fishery products (fish, bivalves and gastropods) captured in European waters. Since available information is scarce, further analytical data regarding the incidence of this toxin in European fishery products is needed in order to perform an appropriate risk assessment devoted to protecting consumers’ health. Hence, samples of bivalves and gastropods were collected at different points of the Spanish coast and analyzed by high-performance hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) to evaluate the presence of TTX. None of the analyzed samples showed TTX above an internal threshold of 10 µg/kg or even showed a peak under it. Our results on TTX occurrence obtained in bivalve molluscs and gastropods did not show, at least in the studied areas, a risk for public health. However, taking into account previous positive results obtained by other research groups, and since we did not detect TTX in our samples, a more completed study increasing sampling frequency is needed to ensure proper risk evaluation towards the food safety of these products