Cawthron’s food toxin expertise helps solve dog deaths
 In August 2009, a number of unexplained dog deaths on Auckland beaches provoked great concern for safety of those beaches and the marine environment in general in the Auckland region.
Cawthron scientists rapidly responded to help determine the source of the toxin and understand the danger posed by this novel event. Cawthron had previously discovered that dogs dying in the Hutt River had ingested anatoxin, a potent neurotoxin from the freshwater algae Phormidium. Cawthron has more than 30 years of toxic marine algae experience and has recently worked with the Australian shellfish industry on a new algal toxin. Despite this experience they knew that, in this instance, the chance of providing a quick answer was slim.
Numerous samples were collected from Narrow Neck and Cheltenham beaches and delivered to Cawthron’s laboratory for immediate analysis. By the next day it was apparent Cawthron staff had made an amazing discovery. Samples of sea slugs picked up from Narrow Neck Beach were extremely toxic. Staff then proceeded to test the sea slug sample for specific toxins and within a few days had confirmed the presence of high levels of tetrodotoxin (TTX).
TTX is notorious as the deadly pufferfish toxin, but it is also found in a huge range of marine species. The discovery that TTX was present at high levels on Narrow Neck Beach, and could be responsible for dog deaths, was further reinforced when a sample of dog vomit was found to contain TTX.
This is an excellent example of how Cawthron’s world class natural toxin expertise was rapidly deployed to understand a novel toxic event and provided timely advice to authorities to manage the risks they pose.
This expertise has evolved through the continued work with the seafood industry to develop world leading methodology to identify natural toxins in food.
Cawthron has recently developed and validated an instrumental screening method for NSP toxicity in shellfish. This further reduces the reliance of the shellfish industry on the unvalidated and poorly performing bioassay.
Cawthron was also the first laboratory in the world to develop and validate the method for testing of Tutin in honey: another example of their ability to respond quickly to a food industry need to ensure the safety of finished products for consumption.
For further information contact: Cawthron, Tel: 03 548 2319,
Email: lab@cawthron.org.nz
or visit: www.cawthron.org.nz
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