Handbook Of Clinical Neurology

Throughout the world, marine toxins cause a variety of acute, subchronic and chronic diseases in humans, as well as disease in other mammals, fish and birds (Table 1) (Hughes & Merson 1976, Southcott 1979, Baden 1983, ILO 1984, Sakamoto et al, 1987, Halstead 1988). The diseases in humans range from acute neurologic diseases, such as Ciguatera and Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, to chronic dementia as reported with domoic acid exposure. The marine toxins cause disease predominantly through the ingestion of contaminated fish and shellfish, although certain diseases are via skin contact and even with inhalation. Therefore, the food web and the biomagnification of these toxins through the marine food web play important roles in the transmission of the marine toxin disease. These marine toxins bioaccumulate in a range of intermediate marine hosts (ie. the transvectors) both shellfish and fish prior to contact with humans; often there are additional secondary transvectors with further bioaccumulation (such as carnivore fish eating contaminated herbivores).

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