PSP in the Philippines : three decades of monitoring a disaster

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) caused by Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum is of significant public health concern in the Philippines. Blooms of Pyrodinium occurred 135 times in 27 different coastal waters of the country between 1983 and 2005 with a total of 2,161 reported PSP cases and 123 fatalities. To address the growing problem on PSP a strategy to mitigate the impact has been implemented. PSP monitoring program has been in placed for more than two decades now. This paper summarizes the current status of occurrence and historical perspective of PSP in the Philippines and collaborative efforts done to improve the monitoring system

Abundance and distribution of zooplankton in the South China Sea, Area III: Western Philippines

A survey on the zooplankton in the waters of western Philippines was carried out from April 18 to May 9, 1998. The estimate of zooplankton biomass ranged from 0.92 mg/m3 to 20.85 mg/m3 with a mean of 5.70 mg/m3. Maximum and minimum densities of zooplankton recorded were 4683/m3 in station 16 and 446/m3 in station 5, respectively. The zooplankton communities were comprised of 37 different categories of animal groups. Copepods were the most dominant group in zooplankton communities at all stations but their abundance varied from 5% to 43% of the total zooplankton

Screening of diatoms producing domoic acid and its derivatives in the Philippines

Domoic acid is the known causative agent responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). Although there is only one documented ASP case in the world, there is a potential of its occurrence in Southeast Asian countries. However, limited information on domoic acid producing diatoms is available except for Nitzschia navis-varingica, which is known to produce significant levels of domoic acid. In order to obtain fundamental data on domoic acid producing diatoms, screening of Pseudo-nitzschia and Nitzschia species were primarily performed in the Philippines. Two source areas, i.e. Manila Bay and Iba estuary of Luzon Island, were selected for observation of these diatoms. Fifty eight isolates of Pseudo-nitzscia and 18 isolates of Nitzschia-like diatoms were prepared from Manila Bay and Iba estuary, respectively. These isolates were cultured and tested for the production of domoic acid and its derivatives. Pseudo-nitzscia strains did not show any signs of domoic acid production. Five out of 18 Nitzschia isolates were confirmed to produce isodomoic acids A and B. Comparison of sonication and boiling in water bath as extraction methods was investigated and results showed that both methods yielded comparable amounts of domoic acid. Stability of domoic acid extracted by boiling was also investigated and was found out to be stable at room temperature for ten days. Results implied an advantageous and convenient way of sample preparation and preservation for international transport

The amphibians and reptiles of Mindanao Island, southern Philippines, II: the herpetofauna of northeast Mindanao and adjacent islands

We summarize all available amphibian and reptile species distribution data from the northeast Mindanao faunal region, including small islands associated with this subcenter of endemic vertebrate biodiversity. Together with all publicly available historical information from biodiversity repositories, we present new data from several major herpetological surveys, including recently conducted inventories on four major mountains of northeast Mindanao, and adjacent islands of Camiguin Sur, Dinagat, and Siargao. We present species accounts for all taxa, comment on unresolved taxonomic problems, and provide revisions to outdated IUCN conservation status assessments in cases where our new data significantly alter earlier classification status summaries. Together, our comprehensive analysis of this fauna suggests that the greater Mindanao faunal region possesses distinct subcenters of amphibian and reptile species diversity, and that until this area is revisited and its fauna and actually studied, with on-the-ground field work including targeted surveys of species distributions coupled to the study their natural history, our understanding of the diversity and conservation status of southern Philippine herpetological fauna will remain incomplete. Nevertheless, the northeast Mindanao geographical area (Caraga Region) appears to have the highest herpetological species diversity (at least 126 species) of any comparably-sized Philippine faunal subregion

PSP in the Philippines : three decades of monitoring a disaster

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) caused by Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum is of significant public health concern in the Philippines. Blooms of Pyrodinium occurred 135 times in 27 different coastal waters of the country between 1983 and 2005 with a total of 2,161 reported PSP cases and 123 fatalities. To address the growing problem on PSP a strategy to mitigate the impact has been implemented. PSP monitoring program has been in placed for more than two decades now. This paper summarizes the current status of occurrence and historical perspective of PSP in the Philippines and collaborative efforts done to improve the monitoring system

Correlation between allied medical courses admission test scores and general education performance of radiologic technology freshmen school year 2008-2009

The descriptive-correlational method was used in the study. Eighty-five (85) out of 104 first year radiologic technology students were chosen using purposive sampling as respondents. The allied medical courses admission test (AMCAT) scores and general education performance during school year 2008-2009 were obtained and documentary analysis was performed on the data. Students with AMCAT scores were included as respondents. Frequency, mean, t-test, standard deviation and Pearson Product Moment of Correlation Coefficient were applied in data analysis. The following conclusions were draw: 1) Most of the respondents were regular students and came from private secondary schools; 2) The AMCAT scores of the respondents showed a high average performance; 3) Most of the freshman radiologic technology students of DLSHSI had an overall satisfactory performance in general education courses; 4) The AMCAT scores and general education performance had a high positive correlation. Therefore, it can be considered as a valid predictor of the level of success or failure in the general education courses

Two new ASP toxin production types in strains of Nitzschia navis-varingica from the Philippines

Nitzschia navis-varingica, a diatom widely distributed in brackish waters of Japan and Southeast Asia, was found to produce domoic acid (DA) and its derivatives isodomoic acids A (IA) and B (IB) as the major toxin components. The toxin composition of N. navis-varingica has previously been classified into three types namely DA type (produces DA and IB with an IB ratio of less than 10%), DA-IB type (the IB ratio is 20-80%) and IA-IB type (produces no DA). In the latter type, the ratio of IB tends to be higher in southern areas. In order to investigate more detailed distribution of ASP toxin types of N. navis-varingica, a screening was performed in three localities on Luzon Island, the Philippines. All isolates from one locality, Bulacan, were the DA-IB type. Isolates from the other two localities, Alaminos and Cavite, were found to make up two different and never described toxin composition types, the IB and the DA-IA-IB types, respectively. Sub-strains established from a representative parent of each new toxin composition type showed the same toxin composition as the parental strains. These results suggest that ASP toxin composition types of N. navis-varingica are more complex than previously reported.Proceedings of the Horiba International Conference "New Direction of Ocean Research in the Western Pacific" : Past, Present and Future of UNESCO/IOC/WESTPAC Activity for 50 years and the JSPS Project "Coastal Marine Science"Section I: Research Articles/Harmful microalga

Two new ASP toxin production types in strains of Nitzschia navis-varingica from the Philippines

Nitzschia navis-varingica, a diatom widely distributed in brackish waters of Japan and Southeast Asia, was found to produce domoic acid (DA) and its derivatives isodomoic acids A (IA) and B (IB) as the major toxin components. The toxin composition of N. navis-varingica has previously been classified into three types namely DA type (produces DA and IB with an IB ratio of less than 10%), DA-IB type (the IB ratio is 20-80%) and IA-IB type (produces no DA). In the latter type, the ratio of IB tends to be higher in southern areas. In order to investigate more detailed distribution of ASP toxin types of N. navis-varingica, a screening was performed in three localities on Luzon Island, the Philippines. All isolates from one locality, Bulacan, were the DA-IB type. Isolates from the other two localities, Alaminos and Cavite, were found to make up two different and never described toxin composition types, the IB and the DA-IA-IB types, respectively. Sub-strains established from a representative parent of each new toxin composition type showed the same toxin composition as the parental strains. These results suggest that ASP toxin composition types of N. navis-varingica are more complex than previously reported.Proceedings of the Horiba International Conference "New Direction of Ocean Research in the Western Pacific" : Past, Present and Future of UNESCO/IOC/WESTPAC Activity for 50 years and the JSPS Project "Coastal Marine Science"Section I: Research Articles/Harmful microalga