Toxins sample collection

Azaspiracid (AZA) poisoning has been reported in five countries, all of them in the European Union and all from consumption of mussels cultivated in Ireland. The first outbreak occurred in Netherlands in November 1995 with eight people affected. The symptoms were similar to those of DSP, but the concentration of the major DSP toxins were very low [60]. No known organisms producing DSP toxins were observed in water samples collected at that time. In addition, a slowly progressing paralysis was observed in the mouse assay using mussel extracts. These neurotoxic symptoms were quite different from typical DSP toxicity. Subsequently, AZA was identified, and the new toxic syndrome was called AZA shellfish poisoning. 

The chemistry of the toxin residues in shellhsh samples collected during the bloom were intensively studied, and provide a well documented case study (Figure 21.4) of BTX metabolism in different shellhsh species (Ishida et al., 2006). 

In an attempt to determine the cause of repeated fish kills in an estuarine aquaculture facility in Maryland, we have shown that K. veneficum produces a unique suite of compounds with hemolytic, cytotoxic, and ichthyotoxic properties, which we refer to as karlotoxins (KmTx [139]). Thus far, we have been able to detect these compounds in clonal isolates collected from estuarine waters from the U.S. states of Maryland, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida [163], as well as isolates from New Zealand, Norway, and the English Channel. In addition, we were able to isolate these same toxins directly from water samples collected during fish kills in a South Carolina brackish water pond [140] as well as a fish kill in a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. In both cases, high densities of... 

COUNTERMEASURES Physical Protection Real-Time Detection of an Attack Diagnosis General Considerations Approaches to Prevention and Treatment Decontamination and Protection of Medical Personnel Sample Collection General Rules for Toxins Toxin Analysis and Identification Water Treatment... 

Remains of persons possibly contaminated with toxins should be handled the same as chemically contaminated remains. For the most part, toxins are more easily destroyed than chemical agents, and they are much more easily destroyed than anthrax spores. Chemical disinfection of remains in 0.2% sodium hypochlorite solution for 10 minutes would destroy all surface toxin (and even anthrax spores), greatly reducing the risk of secondary exposure. Sample Collection General Rules for Toxins... 

The staphylococcal enterotoxins are moderately stable proteins therefore, immunological evaluation should be possible on samples collected in either deployed or fixed medical treatment facilities. Immunoassays can detect picogram quantities of toxins in environmental samples. For comparison, 440 pg/mL was reported as the mean concentration of TSST-1 in human sera from patients with toxic shock syndrome.25 Anti-TSST-1 antibody titers are either suppressed or depleted in patients with toxic shock syndrome26,27 and the levels only recover during convalescence. In addition, most normal human serum samples contain detectable levels of antibody reacting with several different bacterial pyrogenic toxins, including... 

The majority of MS detection techniques for biological toxins involve collecting water samples for LC-MS and LC-MS/MS methods. Of these techniques, many have been developed with a focus on detecting biological toxins in environmental samples (e.g., natural waters), but these methods can be applied to drinking waters and any body of water that needs to be monitored and secured from these threats. In particular, sample preparation may need to be tailored to the sample matrix of interest, be it natural or treated water. 

In the forensic arena identification of drugs and their metabolites from samples related to criminal investigations provides challenges for the laboratory undertaking these analyses. Matrix effects from less than ideal samples may behave unusually compared to samples collected in the clinical setting. The myriad of potential toxins, poisons, and pharmaceuticals that could be present... 

Of the 14 volunteers for the Phase I study, 11 were given the transgenic potatoes containing the toxin as vaccine and three had ordinary potatoes. Blood and stool samples were collected from the volunteers to evaluate the vaccine s ability to stimulate both systemic and intestinal immune responses. Ten of the 11 volunteers who ingested the transgenic potatoes had fourfold rises in serum antibodies at some point after immunization, and six of the 11 developed fourfold rises in intestinal antibodies. The potatoes were well tolerated and no one experienced serious adverse effects. 

Bacterial enck)toxin pass the water through a pyrogenic connection for about 1 minute and then collect the sample in a pyrogenic bottle. All materials coming in contact with test materials and reagents must be pyrogen free and careful technique is essential to prevent contamination with environmental endotoxin. 

In Japan, the first detection of AN and its degradation product, epoxy-AN, have been reported (Park et al. 1993). This was also the first study to show that Microcystis could produce both AN and microcystins. The predominant species were Anabanea and Planktothrix with toxin concentrations in the range 0.4-16 pg AN/g. In addition, AN, HMAN, and a new compound, hydroxy-HMAN, were isolated from Raphidiopsis mediterranea in Japan (Namikoshi et al. 2003 Watanabe et al. 2003). AN was also found in four of 26 samples from Korean lakes, collected during 1992-1995 (Park etal. 1998). 

Appropriate samples, such as serum, nasopharyngeal swabs and urine, should be collected from exposed individuals and sent for toxin identifrcation or confirmation. Currently, there are no commercially available rapid field diagnostic tests for identification of trichothecene exposure. Confirmation of exposure requires testing of blood, tissue, and environmental samples using GC-MS techniques. 

Staphylococcal food poisoning is one of the most common types of food poisoning in the United States. The true incidence of staphylococcal food poisoning is unknown due to lack of information from victims, misdiagnosis of the illness, and inadequate collection of samples for laboratory analyses. A toxin dose of less than 1.0 pg in contaminated food will produce symptoms of staphylococcal intoxication. This toxin level represents a S. aureus population exceeding 100 000 organisms per gram. 

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