Roué Mélanie auteur aut IRD Darius H. T. auteur aut IRD Ung A. auteur aut IRD Viallon J. auteur aut IRD Sibat M. auteur aut IRD Hess P. auteur aut IRD Amzil Z. auteur aut IRD Chinain M. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Ciguatera is a foodborne disease caused by the consumption of seafood contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs). Ciguatera-like poisoning events involving giant clams (Tridacna maxima) are reported occasionally from Pacific islands communities. The present study aimed at providing insights into CTXs tissue distribution and detoxification rate in giant clams exposed to toxic cells of Gambierdiscus polynesiensis, in the framework of seafood safety assessment. In a first experiment, three groups of tissue (viscera, flesh and mantle) were dissected from exposed individuals, and analyzed for their toxicity using the neuroblastoma cell-based assay (CBA-N2a) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses. The viscera, flesh, and mantle were shown to retain 65%, 25%, and 10% of the total toxin burden, respectively. All tissues reached levels above the safety limit recommended for human consumption, suggesting that evisceration alone, a practice widely used among local populations, is not enough to ensure seafood safety. In a second experiment, the toxin content in contaminated giant clams was followed at different time points (0, 2, 4, and 6 days post-exposure). Observations suggest that no toxin elimination is visible in T. maxima throughout 6 days of detoxification. specialized giant clams ex situ exposure to toxic algae ciguatoxins Gambierdiscus polynesiensis anatomical distribution toxin elimination CBA-N2a LC-MS/MS 035 054 034 020 050 10 5 art. 189 [13p.] 2018 2072-6651 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010073161 10.3390/toxins10050189 2072-6651 [F B010073161] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010073161 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers18-08/010073161.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2018-09-03 2018-09-04 fdi:010073161 fre