Abstract
Currently, paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) is officially monitored in Japan using the mouse bioassay (MBA). Ethically, the 3R principle of animal welfare recommends switching to a testing method that minimises the use of mice. In this study, we assessed the design and usefulness of an initial poisoning monitoring system for the prevention of food poisoning caused by PSP using other methods that are rapid, cost-effective, and accurate. Crassostrea gigas samples from consignments that were subject to voluntary shipping restrictions owing to the detection of levels of PSP above the regulatory limit (4 MU/g) through MBA were diluted to various concentrations with a non-poison containing blank sample to prepare experimental poisoned samples. The “Skit ELISA for PSP” kit and simple immunochromatography-based “MT test Immunochromato-PSP ‘Nissui’ ” kit were used for detecting PSP in the experimental poisoned samples. The functional suitability of the ELISA and MT test kits for screening PSP was verified. We inferred that “Skit ELISA for PSP” and “MT test Immunochromatography-PSP ‘Nissui’ ” kits are effective for monitoring poisoning by PSP. Furthermore, the use of these testing methods in combination with MBA notably reduced the number of mice and management costs of the corresponding mouse required for analysis compared with that needed for MBA alone. Specifically, a reduction of at least nine mice per sample was achieved after exceeding the regulatory limit in the first MBA. This reduction effect may become greater the longer the detection of PSP above the regulatory limit in the sample continues.
