Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology

Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University

BIO1227: MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY

INSTITUTE OF NURSING AND IAS, BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

WEEK 3: MEDICALLY SIGNIFICANT ALGAE

ITEM MSM PROFILE

MICROBIAL PROFILE
I MICROORGANISM/CAUSATIVE Pseudo-nitzschia australis
AGENT
A GRAM REACTION (-)
B OXYGEN REQUIREMENT Facultative intracellular
C SIZE Length (apical axis): 25 - 160 μm
Width (transapical axis): 0.5 - 8 μm
D SHAPE Narrow and boat-shaped
E HABITAT Found in temperate and sub-tropic marine waters,
such as off the coast of California and Argentina.
F DISCOVERY The P. australis was first observed in Washington in
razor clams in 1991. The levels of domoic acid were
above USDFA standards from 1991 to 2003 on the
coast of Washington State.
G MICROSCOPIC IMAGE

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©Biofacultymember2021
 Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology
Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University

II DISEASE PROFILE Pseudo-nitzschia is a marine planktonic diatom genus

that accounts for 4.4% of pennate diatoms found
worldwide. Some species are capable of producing
the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA), which is responsible
for the neurological disorder in humans known as
amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP).
A DISEASE/S Amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP)
Gastrointestinal distress
B SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE Symptoms depend on:
How a person or animal was exposed
How long they were exposed

Short-term symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,

stomach pain, shortness of breath, irregular
heartbeat, abnormal hot and cold sensations,
memory loss, disorientation, seizures, possibly coma

Long-term symptoms: Possibly amnesia

C INCUBATION PERIOD
D MODE OF TRANSMISSION
Depending on the patient’s condition
• Transmitted to humans by eating the
contaminated foods such as: Shellfish,
primarily scallops, mussels, clams, and oysters;
possibly some fish species

• It can also be transmitted through exposure in

the water containing harmful algal blooms
E DIAGNOSIS Patients tested within 48 hours of their exposure did
not have any detectable levels. It is suspected that this
may be due to the body’s rapid clearance of domoic
acid. Today, there are not any laboratory assay
commercially available that measures domoic acid
levels in humans. For the majority of patients, a head
CT scan will be unremarkable. An EEG may show
nonspecific slowing or epileptiform activity, but
neither of these findings would be specific for the
diagnosis which should be made on clinical grounds.
F TREATMENT There is no antidote for Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning.
The only treatment for severe cases is the use of life
support systems until the toxin passes from the
victim's system.
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©Biofacultymember2021
 Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology
Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University

G PREVENTION Know the shellfish

Different types of shellfish absorb biotoxins ("red
tide") at different rates, so you may see closures
listed for specific species.
For example:
• Mussels accumulate biotoxins more quickly than
other types of shellfish.
• Varnish clams tend to have higher biotoxin levels.
• Butter clams and varnish clams can remain toxic
long after other species return to safe levels.

Handle, Store, and Cook Your Shellfish Properly

• Harvest and cook shellfish properly to help
prevent illnesses such as vibriosis and
norovirus.
keep yourself and your pets safe, such as not going
into water containing harmful algal blooms
H NO OF DAYS BEING Patients with toxicity from domoic acid may present
SYMPTOMATIC with headaches, abdominal pain, cramping, nausea,
vomiting, and diarrhea within 30 minutes to 24 hours.
With more severe toxicity, patients progress to
develop permanent short-term memory loss, seizures,
coma, or shock over the next 48 hours.

I IMAGE OF INFECTED PATIENT

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©Biofacultymember2021
 Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology
Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University

Quijano-Scheggia, S. I., Olivos-Ortiz, A., Garcia-Mendoza, E., Sánchez-Bravo, Y., Sosa-Avalos, R., Salas
Marias, N., & Lim, H. C. (2020). Phylogenetic relationships of Pseudo-nitzschia
subpacifica (Bacillariophyceae) from the Mexican Pacific, and its production of domoic acid in
culture. PloS one, 15(4), e0231902. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231902

Bates, Stephen & Hubbard, Katherine & Lundholm, Nina & Montresor, Marina & Leaw, Chui Pin. (2018).
Pseudo-nitzschia, Nitzschia, and domoic acid: New research since 2011. Harmful Algae. 79.
10.1016/j.hal.2018.06.001.

Wikipedia contributors. (2021, April 27). Pseudo-nitzschia. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Retrieved 17:29, July 2, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pseudo-
nitzschia&oldid=1020088833
Daniel Lasoff, MD and Binh Ly, MD (FRI FEB 19, 2016). Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning.
https://calpoison.org/news/amnesic-shellfish-poisoning

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