Low contamination and rapid depuration of domoic acid in the variegated scallop, Mimachlamys varia
2025
Le Moan, Eline | Derrien, Amelie | Terre Terrillon, Aouregan | Fabioux, Caroline | Jean, Frederic | Lassudrie, Malwenn | Flye Sainte Marie, Jonathan | Hégaret, Helene
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are natural proliferations of microalgal species, able to produce toxic compounds, such as domoic acid (DA), a neurotoxin responsible for the Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) which can be lethal for mammals. Pectinid species are of high economic value and are particularly vulnerable to these events. As filter-feeders, they can accumulate DA and transfer it through the food web. However, DA retention (accumulation and depuration) varies between species, meaning that not all fisheries are equally affected. Therefore, there is a need to better understand species-specific DA dynamics in order to effectively manage fisheries and mitigate economic impacts. Variegated scallops, Mimachlamys varia, have low DA levels compared to king scallops, Pecten maximus, although both occur in similar locations. However, there is a lack of knowledge on DA retention in M. varia, partly due to the difficulty of monitoring field-level individual contamination, and obtaining large volumes of toxic Pseudo-nitzschia species under laboratory conditions. This study summarises the information available from French monitoring networks for DA contamination in M. varia and investigates DA accumulation and depuration by experimental exposure. The in-situ monitoring revealed that M. varia can accumulate DA, but at lower concentrations than other bivalves at similar locations and times. The experimental exposure induced contamination and we estimated a high depuration rate of for the digestive gland. These findings have implications for fisheries management and suggest that M. varia may be less susceptible to domoic acid-related effects than other pectinid species and could be an alternative resource.
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