What Is Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) is a naturally occurring marine biotoxin that is produced by some species of microscopic algae. Shellfish eat these algae and can retain the toxin. People can become ill from eating shellfish contaminated with Paralytic Shellfish Poison.

What causes paralytic shellfish poisoning?

Causes. Paralytic shellfish poisoning is caused from the ingestion of toxin-contaminated bivalve shellfish and crustaceans. Algal blooms of dinoflagellates, usually during the warmer months of June to October, result in toxin accumulation in filter feeders such as bivalves.

Is paralytic shellfish poisoning a virus?

Paralytic shellfish poisoning is a foodborne illness that typically develops after consumption of shellfish contaminated with saxitoxin. During blooms of toxic algae, especially dinoflagellates of the genera Alexandrium, feeding molluscan bivalves and other shellfish concentrate the toxin and are unsafe to consume.