Dear colleagues:
The tunicate Pyura chilensis Molina (common name "piure") is one of the
local sea squirt species that inhabits intertidal and subtidal surfaces
from the coasts of Southern Peru (16º SL) to Chiloé Island in the south of
Chile (43º30´ LS). "Piure" filters plankton and suspended particles and is
a common delicacy appreciated by coastal inhabitants in Chile and Perú.
Piure is eaten raw or cooked and is exported to Asean markets.
During a recent Amnesic Shellfish Poison (ASP) outbreak in an scallop
farming area in the north of Chile (27º SL), several infaunal species were
tested for the presence of domoic acid (DA) the principal toxic component
of ASP. DA was found at subtoxic levels (<20 µg/g tissue) in scallops
(Argopecten purpuratus), mussels (Mytilus chilensis), cholga (Aulacomya
ater), clams (Protothaca taca) and other species. Of particular interest
was the observation of significant accumulation of toxic Pseudonitszchia
sp. diatoms in the internal siphon an atrium spaces of "piure". HPLC-UV
and LC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of domoic acid in piure tissues,
demonstrating that this tunicate can bioaccumulate this toxin.
I believe this to be the first report (Lopez et al. to be submitted) of DA
presence in a tunicate that is regularly consumed by coastal populations.
These results confirm the need to include these organisms in sanitation
programs for marine toxins.
Sea squirts are consumed in Asean countries, France, Perú and Chile and
may pose an eventual hazard to consumers. These organisms are rather
exotic and I have found it difficult to get access to reports on human
consumption and commercial data in the abovementioned countries in
mainstream
publications. I would be very grateful if you could point me to other
sources of information on these issues.
With thanks,
Dr. Benjamin A. Suárez-Isla
Director
Laboratory of Marine Toxins
Program of Physiology and Biophysics
Institute of Biomedical Sciences
Faculty of Medicine
University of Chile
Av. Independencia 1027
P.O. Box 70005
Santiago 6530499 CHILE
Voice: (562) 678-6308
Fax: (562) 732-9668
www.marearoja.cl
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