Varied assays for PSP toxins in heat shocked Philippine green mussels (Perna viridis)

Toxin assays namely: the mouse bioassay, the receptor binding assay (RBA) and, the immuno-chromatography assay using MIST Alert(TM) rapid test kit were used to determine the concentrations of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins from untreated and heat shocked Philippine green mussels, Perna viridis contaminated with Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum. Toxin levels ranging from 4-15 mug STXeq/100 g sample were quantified in the mussel samples analyzed using RBA. Higher levels of PSP toxins at about 30 mug STX eq/100 g sample were recorded using mouse bioassay, which was attributed to interfering factors that could induce mouse death resulting in false positive reactions. The MIST Alert(TM) test kit showed positive reaction in the samples evaluated based on the reported average profile of PSP toxin analogues at about 40 mug STX eq/100 g sample. The test heat treatments did not elicit definitive change in the PSP toxin profiles of heat shocked mussels relative to the untreated samples.