Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) and Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) in Nigerian Coast, Gulf of Guinea

This investigation is aimed at providing a baseline survey of the current status of the occurrence and spatio-temporal distribution of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in the Nigerian coast, Gulf of Guinea. The study applied the Jellett Rapid Test technique to algal samples collected from 8 states of South-south (SS) and South-west (SW) zones of coastal Nigeria, spanning the Bight of Bonny to the Bight of Benin, in the Gulf of Guinea, during the rainy and dry seasons, to screen for the presence of the human syndromes of ASP and PSP produced by domoic acid and saxitoxin, respectively. Classified as low, medium, high and highest, various levels of these syndromes were detected across the length of the Nigerian coast. Comparatively, the SW region had more syndromes (PSP and ASP) (64%) than the SS (36%) region of Nigerian coast. The prevalence of PSP (68%) was more than ASP (31%) in both zones with rainy season also recording higher (27%) ASP and PSP for SW than SS (12%) zone. Seasonal consideration revealed that more syndromes (ASP and PSP) were recorded in the rainy season compared to the dry season. With the confirmed presence, spatial and temporal distribution of ASP and PSP in the coastal waters of Nigeria, the need for regular monitoring of algal syndromes and toxins screening is advocated.