Unprecedented Alexandrium blooms in a previously low biotoxin risk area of Tasmania, Australia.

Hallegraeff, G; Bolch, C; Condie, S; Dorantes-Aranda, J; Murray, SA; Quinlan, R; Ruvindy, R; Turnbull, A; Ugalde, S; Wilson, K

Unprecedented Alexandrium blooms in a previously low biotoxin risk area of Tasmania, Australia.

Hallegraeff, G Bolch, C Condie, S Dorantes-Aranda, J Murray, SA

Quinlan, R Ruvindy, R

Turnbull, A Ugalde, S Wilson, K

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Publisher:: ICHA
Publication Type:: Conference Proceeding
Citation:: Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Harmful Algae, 2017, pp. 38 - 41
Issue Date:: 2017

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hallegraeff, G	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Bolch, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Condie, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Dorantes-Aranda, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Murray, SA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7096-1307	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Quinlan, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ruvindy, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2031-9225	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Turnbull, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ugalde, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wilson, K	en_US
dc.contributor.editor	Proenca, LA	en_US
dc.contributor.editor	Hallegraeff, G	en_US
dc.date	2016-10-09	en_US
dc.date.issued	2017	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Harmful Algae, 2017, pp. 38 - 41	en_US
dc.identifier.isbn	978-87-990827-6-6	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/132727
dc.description.abstract	During October 2012, a shipment of blue mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the poorly monitored east coast of Tasmania, Australia, was tested by Japanese import authorities and found to be contaminated with unacceptable levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PSTs; 10 mg/kg). Subsequently local oysters, scallops, clams, the viscera of abalone and rock lobsters were also found to be contaminated. This led to a global product recall and loss to the local economy of AUD 23M. Following low toxicity during 2013 and 2014 and implementation of minimal shellfish farm closures, a more severe bloom event occurred during July-November 2015 and again June-September 2016 (up to 300,000 Alexandrium cells/L; 24 mg/kg PST in mussels, 6 mg/kg in Crassostrea gigas oysters), also causing 4 human illnesses resulting in hospitalization after consumption of wild shellfish. While Alexandrium tamarense had been detected in low concentrations in southeastern Australia since 1987, all cultured strains belonged to the mostly non-toxic group 5 (now designated A. australiense; detected since 1987) and weakly toxic group 4 (A. pacificum; detected in 1997). In contrast, the 2012 to 2016 outbreaks were dominated by highly toxic group 1 (A. fundyense) never detected previously in the Australian region. Molecular analyses suggest that A. fundyense may have been a cryptic ribotype previously present in Tasmania, but newly stimulated by altered water column stratification conditions driven by changing rainfall and temperature patterns. Increased seafood and plankton monitoring of the area now include the implementation of Alexandrium qPCR, routine Neogen™ immunological and HPLC PST tests, but ultimately may also drive change in harvesting strategies and aquaculture species selection by the local seafood industry.	en_US
dc.publisher	ICHA	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Harmful Algae	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	17th International Conference on Harmful Algae	en_US
dc.title	Unprecedented Alexandrium blooms in a previously low biotoxin risk area of Tasmania, Australia.	en_US
dc.type	Conference Proceeding
utslib.location	Brazil	en_US
utslib.location.activity	Brazil	en_US
utslib.for	050103 Invasive Species Ecology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - C3 - Climate Change Cluster
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.consider-herdc	false	en_US
pubs.finish-date	2016-10-14	en_US
pubs.place-of-publication	Brazil	en_US
pubs.start-date	2016-10-09	en_US

Abstract:

During October 2012, a shipment of blue mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the poorly monitored east coast of Tasmania, Australia, was tested by Japanese import authorities and found to be contaminated with unacceptable levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PSTs; 10 mg/kg). Subsequently local oysters, scallops, clams, the viscera of abalone and rock lobsters were also found to be contaminated. This led to a global product recall and loss to the local economy of AUD 23M. Following low toxicity during 2013 and 2014 and implementation of minimal shellfish farm closures, a more severe bloom event occurred during July-November 2015 and again June-September 2016 (up to 300,000 Alexandrium cells/L; 24 mg/kg PST in mussels, 6 mg/kg in Crassostrea gigas oysters), also causing 4 human illnesses resulting in hospitalization after consumption of wild shellfish. While Alexandrium tamarense had been detected in low concentrations in southeastern Australia since 1987, all cultured strains belonged to the mostly non-toxic group 5 (now designated A. australiense; detected since 1987) and weakly toxic group 4 (A. pacificum; detected in 1997). In contrast, the 2012 to 2016 outbreaks were dominated by highly toxic group 1 (A. fundyense) never detected previously in the Australian region. Molecular analyses suggest that A. fundyense may have been a cryptic ribotype previously present in Tasmania, but newly stimulated by altered water column stratification conditions driven by changing rainfall and temperature patterns. Increased seafood and plankton monitoring of the area now include the implementation of Alexandrium qPCR, routine Neogen™ immunological and HPLC PST tests, but ultimately may also drive change in harvesting strategies and aquaculture species selection by the local seafood industry.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/132727