Development of Analytical Methods for Multiple Phycotoxins in Fish Plasma

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Marine Biology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Harmful algal blooms (HABs) produce phycotoxins, posing risks to aquatic life and human health via seafood.
• Limited data exists on phycotoxin accumulation in fish, necessitating reliable detection methods.
• Assessing phycotoxin loads is crucial for diagnosing fish mortality and preventing human poisoning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel method for extracting and cleaning up phycotoxins from fish plasma.
• To compare the efficacy of QuEChERS dispersive SPE (d-SPE) against traditional cleanup methods.
• To establish a nonlethal approach for assessing phycotoxin exposure in fish species.

Main Methods:

• Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was employed for phycotoxin analysis.
• Three cleanup techniques were evaluated: QuEChERS d-SPE, solid phase extraction (SPE), and Hexane wash.
• Method validation was performed on plasma from sandbar sharks, striped bass, and blue catfish.

Main Results:

• QuEChERS d-SPE demonstrated high percent recovery (%R) for 14 phycotoxins, averaging 94.8 ± 14.4% across three fish species.
• The QuEChERS d-SPE method was found to be time-efficient and cost-effective compared to other tested methods.
• Results indicated that QuEChERS d-SPE performance was comparable to national laboratory standard cleanup methods.

Conclusions:

• QuEChERS d-SPE offers a reliable, nonlethal method for phycotoxin analysis in fish plasma.
• This technique can establish baseline phycotoxin exposure levels in fish populations.
• Findings suggest species-specific sample cleanup may be necessary for accurate monitoring and public health management.