ABSTRACT
Biotoxins are toxic chemical agents produced by harmful marine micro- and macroalgae. All types of alga contain high amounts of poisonous compounds, which represent a risk to the biological community and human wellbeing. Many types of marine biotoxins are being identified recently with different laboratory diagnostic tests that vary according to the composition of toxins. Future work should also include developing of the molecular assays for the rapid, real-time detection of harmful species and toxin genes. Literature review demonstrated that marine biotoxin are of two types, such as hydro-philic toxins and lipophilic toxins. The most common and harmful of these poisons are domoic acid (DA), saxitoxin, azaspiracid, ciguatoxin, okadaic acid toxins, yesso toxins, and Pectenotoxins. This review chapter focuses on types of shellfish poisoning, their related biotoxins, symptoms, prevention, and treatments.
