ABSTRACT
I. BACKGROUND Marine biotoxins, which are globally distributed, are responsible for numerous human intoxication syndromes due to the ingestion of cooked or uncooked seafood. Over 2500 cases of foodborne diseases caused by fish and shellfish toxicity were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 1993 and 1997 in the United States (1). Marine biotoxins are estimated to cause over 60,000 foodborne intoxications worldwide each year (2). In addition to human intoxications, they cause massive fish kills, negatively impact coastal tourism and fishery industries, and have been implicated in mass mortalities of birds and marine mammals. The long-term environmental and public health effects of chronic exposure to these toxins are poorly understood; research needs are only beginning to be addressed (2,3).
