Detection of the marine toxin okadaic acid in mussels during a diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) episode in Thermaikos Gulf, Greece, using biological, chemical and immunological methods.

An approach involving chemical and biological techniques was taken for the detection and quantification of the marine toxin okadaic acid (OA) in mussels from Thermaikos Gulf, Greece, during a 4-month DSP episode that occurred in 2002. Samples were analyzed using the mouse bioassay, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorimetric detection and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Okadaic acid was quantifiable at three different sites of Thermaikos Gulf reaching a maximum concentration of 36 microg/g hepatopancreas. High correlation was revealed between results derived from HPLC and ELISA (R2=0.998), while 91% consistency between HPLC and the mouse bioassay results was observed.