Yessotoxin

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Yessotoxins (YTXs) are a group of lipophilic sulphated polyester) compounds that are structurally related to brevetoxins and ciguatoxins. They are produced by a number of planktonic algal species particularly the dinoflagellates, Lingulodinium polyedrum, Gonylaulax Spiniferia and Protoceratium reticulatum. When the environmental conditions encourage the growth of these algal species YTXs can accumulate in the water supply and within the edible tissues of bivalve molluscs including mussels, scallops and clams, therefore enabling the entry of YTX into the food chain. A large number of studies have been conducted to assess the potential toxicity of YTX'S. To date none of these studies have highlighted any toxic effects of YTXs when they are present in humans. They have however found that YTX's have toxic effects in mice when the YTX had been administered by an intraperitoneal injection into the animal. The toxicicological effects encountered are similar to those seen for paralytic shellfish toxins and include hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity, with a YTX level of 100µg/Kg causing toxic effects.