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Fatal Canine Intoxications Linked to the Presence of Saxitoxins in Stranded Marine Organisms Following Winter Storm Activity.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Turner, Andrew D 
Dhanji-Rapkova, Monika 
Dean, Karl 
Milligan, Steven 
Hamilton, Mike 

Abstract

At the start of 2018, multiple incidents of dog illnesses were reported following consumption of marine species washed up onto the beaches of eastern England after winter storms. Over a two-week period, nine confirmed illnesses including two canine deaths were recorded. Symptoms in the affected dogs included sickness, loss of motor control, and muscle paralysis. Samples of flatfish, starfish, and crab from the beaches in the affected areas were analysed for a suite of naturally occurring marine neurotoxins of dinoflagellate origin. Toxins causing paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) were detected and quantified using two independent chemical testing methods in samples of all three marine types, with concentrations over 14,000 µg saxitoxin (STX) eq/kg found in one starfish sample. Further evidence for PSP intoxication of the dogs was obtained with the positive identification of PSP toxins in a vomited crab sample from one deceased dog and in gastrointestinal samples collected post mortem from a second affected dog. Together, this is the first report providing evidence of starfish being implicated in a PSP intoxication case and the first report of PSP in canines.

Description

Keywords

dog, intoxication, mammals, paralytic shellfish poisoning, saxitoxins, starfish, Animals, Aquatic Organisms, Brachyura, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Eating, England, Fatal Outcome, Fishes, Saxitoxin, Seasons, Shellfish Poisoning, Starfish

Journal Title

Toxins (Basel)

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2072-6651
2072-6651

Volume Title

10

Publisher

MDPI AG