Which organism causes Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning and what toxin does it produce?

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Multiple Choice

Which organism causes Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning and what toxin does it produce?

Explanation:
Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning comes from toxins produced by a dinoflagellate called Dinophysis, primarily okadaic acid and related dinophysistoxins. Okadaic acid disrupts intestinal cells by inhibiting protein phosphatases, which leads to profuse watery diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal cramps after eating contaminated shellfish. These toxins are heat-stable and persist in shellfish during algal blooms, so cooking does not eliminate the risk. The other organisms listed cause different syndromes through their own toxins: Pseudo-nitzschia makes domoic acid causing Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (GI symptoms plus memory loss), Alexandrium makes saxitoxin causing Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, and Karenia makes brevetoxins causing Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning. Therefore, the pairing for DSP is Dinophysis with okadaic acid.

Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning comes from toxins produced by a dinoflagellate called Dinophysis, primarily okadaic acid and related dinophysistoxins. Okadaic acid disrupts intestinal cells by inhibiting protein phosphatases, which leads to profuse watery diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal cramps after eating contaminated shellfish. These toxins are heat-stable and persist in shellfish during algal blooms, so cooking does not eliminate the risk. The other organisms listed cause different syndromes through their own toxins: Pseudo-nitzschia makes domoic acid causing Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (GI symptoms plus memory loss), Alexandrium makes saxitoxin causing Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, and Karenia makes brevetoxins causing Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning. Therefore, the pairing for DSP is Dinophysis with okadaic acid.

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