Detection and Quantification of Tetrodotoxin in Marine Mud Snails, Nassarius sinarum from a Tidal Flat on the West Coast of Korea

Several members of the family Nassariidae (Class: Gastropoda) are known to contain tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent neurotoxin also found in pufferfish, which has been linked to fatal incidents. This study examines the presence and levels of TTX and its analogues in the nassarid mud snail Nassarius sinarum from the west coast of Korea. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for accurate quantification, we detected seven TTX variants in N. sinarum: TTX, 4-epiTTX, 4,9-anhydroTTX, deoxyTTX, dideoxyTTX, trideoxyTTX, and norTTX. Our findings indicate significant variability in toxin concentrations among individual snails and between different tissues. Muscle tissues consistently showed higher TTX levels than the visceral mass, with the highest concentration reaching 43.5 μg/g and 23.7 μg/g in the muscle and visceral mass, respectively. This level of TTX content could pose a risk of food poisoning if consumed in substantial amounts. Although the TTX amount observed was lower than in other regions, the potential for seasonal fluctuations in toxin levels warrants further investigation to fully understand TTX dynamics in this species. This study provides essential data on TTX levels in N. sinarum, contributing to efforts to prevent food poisoning from their consumption in Korea.