The first identification of azaspiracids in shellfish from France and Spain

Incidents of human intoxications throughout Europe, following the consumption of mussels have been attributed to Azaspiracid Poisoning (AZP). Although first discovered in Ireland, the search for the causative toxins, named azaspiracids, in other European countries has now led to the first discovery of these toxins in shellfish from France and Spain. Separation of the toxins, azaspiracid (AZA1) and analogues, AZA2 and AZA3, was achieved using isocratic reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled, via an electrospray ionisation source, to an ion-trap mass spectrometer. Azaspiracids were identified in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), 0.24 microg/g, from Galicia, Spain, and scallops (Pecten maximus), 0.32 microg/g, from Brittany, France. Toxin profiles were similar to those found in the equivalent shellfish in Ireland in which AZA1 was the predominant toxin.