Harmful Algal Information System: Event US-05-015

General Information

Event name:	US-05-015
Country:	UNITED STATES
Nature of the harmful event:	High Phyto concentration , Seafood toxins
Event directly affected:	Natural Fish , Birds , Shellfish
Toxicity detected:	Yes (Approximate range: 38 - 2540 ug/100g)
Associated syndrome:	PSP
Unexplained toxicity:	No
Species implicated in toxin transmission (transvector):
Report the outcome of a monitoring programme:	Yes (State of Maine Biotoxin Monitoring Program)
Event occurred before in this location:	Yes (Annually)
Individuals to contact:	COUTURE, Darcie A.

Location & Date

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Location:	Latitude: , Longitude:
General location information:	Western Maine Coast, Northeast HAB Area code(s): US-02
Additional location information:
Bloom event dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Quarantine levels dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Additional date-related information:	Mytilus - 5/11/05, Modiolus - 7/19/05.. Toxin still present in Spisula solidissima and Euspira heros through December 2005

Microalgae

Causative organism known:	Yes
Causative Species/Genus:	Alexandrium spp. ( cells/L)
Co-Ocurring Species/Genus:
Chlorophyll concentration, if known:	µg/l
Additional bloom information:
Event-related bibliography:

Environmental Conditions

Weather:	Turbidity (NTU):	Wind direction:
Stratified water:	Oxygen content (nL/L):	Wind velocity:
Temperature (°C):	Oxygen saturation %:	Current Direction:
Sechhi disk (m):	Salinity:	Current Velocity:	0

Nutrient information:

Temperature Range During Event:

Max: °C, Min: °C

Salinity Range During Event:

Bloom location in the water column:

Growth:

Growth Comments

Additional Environmental information:

Toxin Assay Information

Species containing the toxin	Toxin type	Toxin details	Max. concentration	Assay type
Mytilus edulis, Mya arenaria, Modiolus	Saxitoxins		2540 ug/100g	Bioassay-Mouse
Crassostrea virginicus, Ostrea edulis	Saxitoxins			Bioassay-Mouse
Mercenaria, Ensis directus	Saxitoxins			Bioassay-Mouse
Spisula solidissima, Euspira heros, Pandalus	Saxitoxins			Bioassay-Mouse

Kit used: No

Type of kit used:

Additional information:

Toxin detected in hepatopancreas of Homarus americanus and in gut content of Clupea harengus

Economic losses:

Management decision:

Many harvest and aquaculture areas closed

Additional harmful effect information:

Transmission through food web to Pandalus shrimp, Clupea harnegus, Homarus americanus, and suspected transmission to sea birds and larger predatory fish including tuna.