Studies on Distribution, Characterization and Detoxification of Shellfish in Korea 1. A Study on the Distribution of Paralytic Shellfish Poison

Paralytic shellfish poison(PSP) accmulate in shellfish as a result of feeding toxic dinoflagellates. The shellfish do not seem to be harmed by the toxins, but become toxic to humans and other animals that feed on them. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution and changes of PSP by species of shellfish, collected area and collected month. Also, the correlation between PSP and toxic dinoflagellate, Protogonyaulax tamarensis, was investigated. Five hundred and six samples of 13 kinds of shellfish for PSP bioassay were collected at the shellfish growing area of Pusan, Masan, Chungmu, located in South Korea during the study period from May, 1985 to Octcber, 1987. Most of the samples submitted were free from PSP except sea mussel, short - necked clam and ark shell. Among the intoxicated samples, PSP was most often detected in sea mussel. PSP was detected mainly in spring in the southern coast of Korea. In case of Pusan, exceptionally, toxic sea mussel have been found even June and July in 1987. The toxicity score of toxic shellfishes examined was ranged from 23.44 to of edible meat and toxicity of sea mussel was higher than other toxic shellfishes. By the study of anatomical distribution of PSP in sea mussel collected at Masan in Febuary and March, 1986, the toxin accumulated in digestive gland was about of all. There was no significant correlation between toxicity of sea mussel and cell numbers of P. tamarensis that one of the causitive organism of PSP during the studying period in Masan area. There was almost no difference in toxicity of sea mussel by water depth of collection, but toxicity of surface shellfish was a little higher than those of 3.5, and 7.0m depth.