Cause Of Mussel Poisoning Identified
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 - 22:22
in Biology & Nature
The origin of the neurotoxin azaspiracid has finally been identified after a search for more than a decade. The azaspiracid toxin group can cause severe poisoning in human consumers of mussels after being enriched in the shellfish tissues. Scientists now report that a tiny algal species, the dinoflagellate Azadinium spinosum, is responsible.