Malays. Appl. Biol. (December 2002) 31(2): 29-35
PROBABLE TOXIN PRODUCER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF PARALYTIC SHELLFISH POISONING ON THE EAST COAST OF PENINSULA MALAYSIA
USUP, G.1*, PIN, L.C.1, TEEN, L.P.2 and AHMAD, A.3
1 Program Sains Laut 3 Program Biosains, Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia 2 Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi Sumber, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
A study was carried out to determine the presence of potentially toxic dinoflagellate species in the Sungai Geting coastal lagoon in Tumpat, Kelantan. This followed the occurrence of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in the area in September 2001. Only 12 dinoflagellate species were found in net plankton samples collected from the lagoon during the week o1 die event. Of these, four were potentially toxic, namely Dinophysis caudata, D. rotundata, D. miles, and Alexandrium 'vnutum. Among these species only A. minutum is known to produce PSP toxins, and the absence of other potential toxin producers strongly suggests that the species was responsible for the PSP event. The toxicity of the A. minutum :Iones established in laboratory cultures was subsequently proven. This is the first record of the presence of this toxic species in Malaysian waters. The presence of this species and the occurrence of PSP warrants the setting up of a shellfish cooricity monitoring program to cover the northeast coast of Peninsula Malaysia.
ABSTRAK
Satu kajian telah dijalankan untuk mengesan kehadiran spesies dinoflagelat yang mungkin beracun di lagun air payau Sungai Geting di Tumpat Kelantan. Ini berikutan kejadian keracunan kerangan yang melumpuhkan (PSP) di kawasan tersebut dalam bulan September 2001. Cuma 12 spesies dinoflagelat telah ditemui dalam sampel plankton yang diambil ri lagun berkenaan dalam minggu kejadian kes PSP. Empat dari spesies yang dikesan berpotensi menghasilkan toksin, iaitu Dinophysis caudata, D. rotundata, D. miles, dan Alexandrium minutum. Antara spesies tersebut hanya A. minutum Aetahui boleh menghasilkan toksin PSP. Ketiadaan spesies penghasil toksin yang lain mencadangkan A. minutum bertanggung jawab ke atas kejadian PSP tersebut. Selanjutnya, ketoksikan klon A. minutum yang dikultur di makmal ilia dapat dibuktikan. Ini adalah rekod pertama kehadiran spesies toksik ini di perairan Malaysia. Kehadiran spesies ini dan kejadian PSP menunjukkan perlunya diadakan satu program pemonitoran keracunan kerangan untuk kawasan perairan timur laut Semenanjung Malaysia.
Key words: Alexandrium minutum; Dinoflagellates; Harmful algal blooms; Malaysia; Paralytic shellfish
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