Chapter 5
Mitigating the Impacts of Paralytic Shellfish
Poisoning During Harmful Algal Bloom
Episodes in the Philippines
Ulysses M. Montojo, Marc Lawrence J. Romero,
Ronald Jefferson A. Narceda, and Noime S. Walican
Introduction
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) due to harmful algal blooms (HABs; also called
toxic red tides) continues to be a global food safety issue, particularly in Southeast
Asia where the phenomenon is observed to be increasing in frequency and severity
(Fukuyo et al. 2011). In the Philippines, PSP is among the greatest of marine
poisoning hazards recorded in recent years (Table 5.1) and remains the major threat
to the aquaculture industry and seafood consumers. Paralytic shellfish poisoning
occurrences are mainly associated with blooms of toxic dinoflagellates, including
Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum (Hermes and Villoso 1983; Estudillo and
Gonzales 1984), observed in a number of areas, and Alexandrium minutum (Bajarias
et al. 2003), which was observed to be spreading in the Philippines (Fig. 5.1).
Filter feeders, such as molluscan bivalves, often become a vector of PSP toxins
by ingesting toxic microalgae (Montojo et al. 2006). Human consumption of toxincontaminated shellfish leads to acute poisoning and, in the worse cases, death
(Furio and Gonzales 2002). The Philippine government, through the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), recognized the importance of effective
management of HABs by alleviating its related PSP impacts. The primary goal is
to develop a protocol for timely and reliable public advisory in order to prevent its
adverse effects on human health and the fishing industry.
At the same time, the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute
(NFRDI), the research arm of BFAR, has implemented various PSP-related research
U.M. Montojo () • R.J.A. Narceda • N.S. Walican
National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, 101 Mother Ignacia Avenue,
South Triangle, Quezon City 1100, Philippines
e-mail: ulyssesmontojo@gmail.com
M.L.J. Romero
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Elliptical Road, Diliman,
Quezon City 1100, Philippines
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 5,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
47
Mitigating the Impacts of Paralytic Shellfish
Poisoning During Harmful Algal Bloom
Episodes in the Philippines
Ulysses M. Montojo, Marc Lawrence J. Romero,
Ronald Jefferson A. Narceda, and Noime S. Walican
Introduction
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) due to harmful algal blooms (HABs; also called
toxic red tides) continues to be a global food safety issue, particularly in Southeast
Asia where the phenomenon is observed to be increasing in frequency and severity
(Fukuyo et al. 2011). In the Philippines, PSP is among the greatest of marine
poisoning hazards recorded in recent years (Table 5.1) and remains the major threat
to the aquaculture industry and seafood consumers. Paralytic shellfish poisoning
occurrences are mainly associated with blooms of toxic dinoflagellates, including
Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum (Hermes and Villoso 1983; Estudillo and
Gonzales 1984), observed in a number of areas, and Alexandrium minutum (Bajarias
et al. 2003), which was observed to be spreading in the Philippines (Fig. 5.1).
Filter feeders, such as molluscan bivalves, often become a vector of PSP toxins
by ingesting toxic microalgae (Montojo et al. 2006). Human consumption of toxincontaminated shellfish leads to acute poisoning and, in the worse cases, death
(Furio and Gonzales 2002). The Philippine government, through the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), recognized the importance of effective
management of HABs by alleviating its related PSP impacts. The primary goal is
to develop a protocol for timely and reliable public advisory in order to prevent its
adverse effects on human health and the fishing industry.
At the same time, the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute
(NFRDI), the research arm of BFAR, has implemented various PSP-related research
U.M. Montojo () • R.J.A. Narceda • N.S. Walican
National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, 101 Mother Ignacia Avenue,
South Triangle, Quezon City 1100, Philippines
e-mail: ulyssesmontojo@gmail.com
M.L.J. Romero
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Elliptical Road, Diliman,
Quezon City 1100, Philippines
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 5,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
47