Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Alaskan Butter Clams: Does Cleaning Make Them Safe to Eat?
Butter clams (<i>Saxidomus gigantea</i>) are a staple in the subsistence diets of Alaskan Native communities and are also harvested recreationally. This filter–feeding species can accumulate saxitoxins (STXs), potent neurotoxins produced by late spring and summer blooms of the microalga...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Toxins |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/6/271 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849425234345590784 |
|---|---|
| author | R. Wayne Litaker Julie A. Matweyou Steven R. Kibler D. Ransom Hardison William C. Holland Patricia A. Tester |
| author_facet | R. Wayne Litaker Julie A. Matweyou Steven R. Kibler D. Ransom Hardison William C. Holland Patricia A. Tester |
| author_sort | R. Wayne Litaker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Butter clams (<i>Saxidomus gigantea</i>) are a staple in the subsistence diets of Alaskan Native communities and are also harvested recreationally. This filter–feeding species can accumulate saxitoxins (STXs), potent neurotoxins produced by late spring and summer blooms of the microalga <i>Alexandrium catenella</i>. The consumption of tainted clams can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Traditional beliefs and early reports on the efficacy of removing clam siphons have created the impression that cleaning butter clams by removing certain tissues makes them safe to eat. However, the toxin distribution within clams can vary over time, making the practice of cleaning butter clams unreliable. This study tested the effectiveness of the cleaning methods practiced by harvesters on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Specifically, butter clams were cleaned by removing different tissues to produce samples of “edible” tissues that were tested for STX content. The results were compared to historical data from a study conducted in Southeast Alaska from 1948 to 1949. Using these data, the risk for an average–sized man and woman consuming 200 g of edible tissue was calculated. The results showed that for clams containing >200 µg STX–equivalents 100 g edible tissue<sup>−1</sup>, no cleaning method reduced the concentration of STXs in the remaining tissue below the regulatory limit. Meals containing >900 µg STX–equivalents 100 g edible tissue<sup>−1</sup> posed a substantial risk of moderate or severe symptoms. No cleaning method assured that untested butter clams are safe to eat. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2f3eeeac38cb44f6bd72e97d0ad9af31 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj-art-2f3eeeac38cb44f6bd72e97d0ad9af312025-08-20T03:29:49ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512025-05-0117627110.3390/toxins17060271Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Alaskan Butter Clams: Does Cleaning Make Them Safe to Eat?R. Wayne Litaker0Julie A. Matweyou1Steven R. Kibler2D. Ransom Hardison3William C. Holland4Patricia A. Tester5CSS Inc. Under Contract to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Beaufort Laboratory, Beaufort, NC 28516, USAAlaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kodiak, AK 99615, USANational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Beaufort, NC 28516, USANational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Beaufort, NC 28516, USANational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Beaufort, NC 28516, USAOceanTester, LLC, Beaufort, NC 28516, USAButter clams (<i>Saxidomus gigantea</i>) are a staple in the subsistence diets of Alaskan Native communities and are also harvested recreationally. This filter–feeding species can accumulate saxitoxins (STXs), potent neurotoxins produced by late spring and summer blooms of the microalga <i>Alexandrium catenella</i>. The consumption of tainted clams can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Traditional beliefs and early reports on the efficacy of removing clam siphons have created the impression that cleaning butter clams by removing certain tissues makes them safe to eat. However, the toxin distribution within clams can vary over time, making the practice of cleaning butter clams unreliable. This study tested the effectiveness of the cleaning methods practiced by harvesters on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Specifically, butter clams were cleaned by removing different tissues to produce samples of “edible” tissues that were tested for STX content. The results were compared to historical data from a study conducted in Southeast Alaska from 1948 to 1949. Using these data, the risk for an average–sized man and woman consuming 200 g of edible tissue was calculated. The results showed that for clams containing >200 µg STX–equivalents 100 g edible tissue<sup>−1</sup>, no cleaning method reduced the concentration of STXs in the remaining tissue below the regulatory limit. Meals containing >900 µg STX–equivalents 100 g edible tissue<sup>−1</sup> posed a substantial risk of moderate or severe symptoms. No cleaning method assured that untested butter clams are safe to eat.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/6/271paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP)toxicity risksafe consumption<i>Saxidomus gigantea</i>subsistence harvesting |
| spellingShingle | R. Wayne Litaker Julie A. Matweyou Steven R. Kibler D. Ransom Hardison William C. Holland Patricia A. Tester Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Alaskan Butter Clams: Does Cleaning Make Them Safe to Eat? Toxins paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxicity risk safe consumption <i>Saxidomus gigantea</i> subsistence harvesting |
| title | Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Alaskan Butter Clams: Does Cleaning Make Them Safe to Eat? |
| title_full | Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Alaskan Butter Clams: Does Cleaning Make Them Safe to Eat? |
| title_fullStr | Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Alaskan Butter Clams: Does Cleaning Make Them Safe to Eat? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Alaskan Butter Clams: Does Cleaning Make Them Safe to Eat? |
| title_short | Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Alaskan Butter Clams: Does Cleaning Make Them Safe to Eat? |
| title_sort | paralytic shellfish toxins in alaskan butter clams does cleaning make them safe to eat |
| topic | paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxicity risk safe consumption <i>Saxidomus gigantea</i> subsistence harvesting |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/6/271 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rwaynelitaker paralyticshellfishtoxinsinalaskanbutterclamsdoescleaningmakethemsafetoeat AT julieamatweyou paralyticshellfishtoxinsinalaskanbutterclamsdoescleaningmakethemsafetoeat AT stevenrkibler paralyticshellfishtoxinsinalaskanbutterclamsdoescleaningmakethemsafetoeat AT dransomhardison paralyticshellfishtoxinsinalaskanbutterclamsdoescleaningmakethemsafetoeat AT williamcholland paralyticshellfishtoxinsinalaskanbutterclamsdoescleaningmakethemsafetoeat AT patriciaatester paralyticshellfishtoxinsinalaskanbutterclamsdoescleaningmakethemsafetoeat |