Cheung, I. S., Oregon State University, Hatfi, Newport, OR, USA, itchung.cheung@oregonstate.edu
Silver, M. W., University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA, msilver@ucsc.edu

DOMOIC ACID TOXICITY IN THE HEPATOPANCREAS OF “ROCK CRABS” (CANCER ANTENNARIUS AND CANCER PRODUCTUS) AND POTENTIAL TOXICITY TO HUMANS

Domoic Acid (DA), a neurotoxin responsible for Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) in humans, significantly affects the crab fishery on the U.S. West Coast. In California, several Cancer species are commercially and recreationally harvested and crab hepatopancreas (HP), which constitutes about 1/2 of the viscera and known variously as crab “butter”, “fat”, or “brown meat,” is often consumed. In this 1-year study, local rock crabs Cancer antennarius and C. productus from a seasonal estuary and coastal pier site were tested for DA in the HP, including during periods when DA was not measurable in the water. DA concentrations in crab viscera, extrapolated from levels in the HP, frequently exceeded US FDA regulatory limits for Cancer viscera, including during periods when DA was not detected in the water. Our results indicate that HP, selectively used in some regional ethnic cuisines, may pose an as-yet unrecognized health hazard to consumers. These results suggest a need for re-evaluation of regulatory practices for DA in Cancer crabs to insure protection of peoples that consume crab hepatopancreas.

Oral presentation

Presentation is given by student: No
Session #:120
Date: 03-03-2008
Time: 14:15