Author/Editor		Malej, A; Mozetič, P; Malej, A
Title		Toksični fitoplankton - možen vir etiološko neopredeljenih črevesnih okužb
Translated title		Toxic phytoplankton - possible source of etiologically unidentified gastrointestinal disorders
Type		članek
Source		Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.		Letnik 63, št. 3
Publication year		1994
Volume		str. 139-43
Language		slo
Abstract		Background. Various microorganisms may cause gastrointestinal disorders; the infection generally occurs through the consumption of contaminated food. Food-borne disorders from shellfish include infectious diseases due to pathogens like salmonella, vibrio, hepatitis A virus, Norwalk and similar viruses. There is increasing appreciation of the importance of shellfish as vectors for poisoning with toxic phytoplankton, like DSP (diarrheic shellfish poisoning), ASP (amnestic shellfish poisoning) and PSP (paralytic shellfish poisoning). Methods. A survey of toxic dinoflagellates was carried out in the Gulf of Trieste: phytoplankton was collected at four standard depths using 5 L Niskin bottle. The number of cells was determined in formalin preserved samples according to Utermoehl method. We analyzed the relative frequency of the reported (1983-1992) outbreaks of etiologically unidentified gastrointestinal disorders in the coastal region of R. Slovenia. Results and conclusions. Of toxic plankton that can cause shellfish poisoning, only DSP producing organisms were found in the Gulf of Trieste. Dinophysis species (D. acuminata, D. acuta, D. fortii, D. sacculus) were generally recorded from May to October. In the coastal region, etiologically unidentified gastrointestinal disorders were most frequent during August, September and October during the ten years surveyed. We have no direct evidence that there were any cases of DSP among these, since for an outbreak to be considered confirmed, a toxin must be detected in vomits of a patient. While the DSP toxins were detected in shellfish along Slovenian coast and there were several cases of DSP confirmed along the coast of Northern Italy it is plausible that this shellfish poisoning along our coast remained unrecognized.
Descriptors		SEAWATER MUSSELS FOOD POISONING PHYTOPLANKTON ENTEROCOLITIS SEASONS SLOVENIA DIARRHEA