The shellfish, which are less sensitive to the toxins, will ingest the dinoflagellates and retain the toxins. Temporary amnesia has also been associated with eating contaminated shellfish. Developed countries typically monitor shellfish beds and other resources for dinoflagellates. SP Toxin Comments Gymnodinium breve neurotoxic brevetoxin Known for fish kills in Gulf of Mexico. The toxin blocks Na-channels.
Planktonic snails eat the dinoflagellate, fish eat the snails, etc.
Toxin uncouples communication between muscle and nerve. Prorocentrum lima diarrheic okadaic acid Common in Asia. Newly described organism responsible for fish kills in mid-Atlantic estuaries. Complex ambush predator life cycle. Reports from fishermen and swimmers complaining of rashes, respiratory problems and neurological phenomenon and massive fish kills in North Carolina estuaries and the Chesapeake Bay during the late 1980's and early 1990's led to the identification of this previously undescribed dinoflagellate.