MARINE TOXINS AND VENOMOUS AND POISONOUS MARINE ANIMALS
293
(1965) the venoms of some vermivorous species provoke hemorrhage
and necrosis in mammals, and have been implicated in injuries to man.
Other gastropods known to be venomous or poisonous are Neptunea
antiqua (L.), N . arthritica Bernardi, N . intersculpta Sowerby, Buccinum leumstoma Lischke, Fusitriton oregonensis (Redfield), Cmsis
tuberosa L., Aplysia californica Cooper and A . vaccaria Winkler.
2. Cephulopoda
Cephalopods secrete a venom in their salivary glands that has a
deleterious effect, and in particular a paralytic effect, on certain
animals and occasionally on man. The toxin is used to immobilize the
animal’s prey ; it also appears to have a digestive function. It plays
a lesser role as a defensive weapon. Among the cephalopods that have
been implicated in bites on humans or are known to be venomous are :
Octopus vulgaris Cuvier ( ? = 0. r u g o w ) , 0. appollyon (Berry),
0. bimaculatus Verrill, 0. macropua Risso, 0. rubemens [ = E . cirrosa
(Lamarck)], 0. Jitchi (Raf.), 0. Jlindersi Cotton, Eledone moschata
(Lamarck), E. aEdrovandi and Sepia o&inalis L. In addition, some
octopods are known to acquire Physalia tentacles and employ them aa
offensive and defensive weapons (Jones, 1963).
B. Paralytic shellJish poisoning
Paralytic shellfish poisoning is caused by certain molluscs whioh
have ingested toxic dinoflagellates and which are subsequently eaten
by man. Data concerning the organisms responsible for the poisoning,
the chemistry and toxicology of the poison, and related problems are
found in Section 11. The present discussion is limited to the mechanism
of the intoxication and a review of the shellfish most often implicated
in the poisonings.
It is not known how the poison accumulates or concentrates in
the mollusc ; it can be stored in certain organs of the animal without
deleterious effect. The site of concentration of the toxin may vary with
the different species of shellfish, with the different seasons of the year
and with certain other factors. I n most instances the poison is concentrated in the digestive glands of the mollusc. In several clams the
toxin may accumulate in the gills, while in at least one clam, S&dumwr,
it is found in the siphons. Table I11 lists most of the molluscan species
which have been reported to transvect dinoflagellate poison.
I n addition, paralytic shellfish poisoning may be caused by at
least one echinoderm, Pismter ochraceua (Alaska to California), and
one arthropod, Emerita anabga (Stimpson) (Oregon to South America).
A non-paralytic type of shellfish poisoning following the ingestion of
293
(1965) the venoms of some vermivorous species provoke hemorrhage
and necrosis in mammals, and have been implicated in injuries to man.
Other gastropods known to be venomous or poisonous are Neptunea
antiqua (L.), N . arthritica Bernardi, N . intersculpta Sowerby, Buccinum leumstoma Lischke, Fusitriton oregonensis (Redfield), Cmsis
tuberosa L., Aplysia californica Cooper and A . vaccaria Winkler.
2. Cephulopoda
Cephalopods secrete a venom in their salivary glands that has a
deleterious effect, and in particular a paralytic effect, on certain
animals and occasionally on man. The toxin is used to immobilize the
animal’s prey ; it also appears to have a digestive function. It plays
a lesser role as a defensive weapon. Among the cephalopods that have
been implicated in bites on humans or are known to be venomous are :
Octopus vulgaris Cuvier ( ? = 0. r u g o w ) , 0. appollyon (Berry),
0. bimaculatus Verrill, 0. macropua Risso, 0. rubemens [ = E . cirrosa
(Lamarck)], 0. Jitchi (Raf.), 0. Jlindersi Cotton, Eledone moschata
(Lamarck), E. aEdrovandi and Sepia o&inalis L. In addition, some
octopods are known to acquire Physalia tentacles and employ them aa
offensive and defensive weapons (Jones, 1963).
B. Paralytic shellJish poisoning
Paralytic shellfish poisoning is caused by certain molluscs whioh
have ingested toxic dinoflagellates and which are subsequently eaten
by man. Data concerning the organisms responsible for the poisoning,
the chemistry and toxicology of the poison, and related problems are
found in Section 11. The present discussion is limited to the mechanism
of the intoxication and a review of the shellfish most often implicated
in the poisonings.
It is not known how the poison accumulates or concentrates in
the mollusc ; it can be stored in certain organs of the animal without
deleterious effect. The site of concentration of the toxin may vary with
the different species of shellfish, with the different seasons of the year
and with certain other factors. I n most instances the poison is concentrated in the digestive glands of the mollusc. In several clams the
toxin may accumulate in the gills, while in at least one clam, S&dumwr,
it is found in the siphons. Table I11 lists most of the molluscan species
which have been reported to transvect dinoflagellate poison.
I n addition, paralytic shellfish poisoning may be caused by at
least one echinoderm, Pismter ochraceua (Alaska to California), and
one arthropod, Emerita anabga (Stimpson) (Oregon to South America).
A non-paralytic type of shellfish poisoning following the ingestion of