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<p>Occurring on coral reefs in Indo-West Pacific waters, the Xanthid crab <i>Zosimus aeneus</i> is recognized as one of the most toxic marine crabs due to its content of tetrodotoxins (TTXs) and paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs). However, information on the toxin profiles of this species in Vietnamese waters has been lacking. In this study, specimens of <i>Z. aeneus</i> were collected from Ly Son Island and Phu Quy Island, Viet Nam, and their toxicity and toxin composition were analyzed using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC–MS/MS). Both TTXs (including TTX, 4-<i>epi</i>TTX, and 4,9-anhydro-TTX) and saxitoxin (STX) were detected simultaneously in the soft tissues, the edible part relevant to human consumption. A high prevalence of toxicity was observed: 87.5% (7/8) of specimens from Ly Son Island and all specimens from Phu Quy Island (100%, 6/6) tested positive for toxins. The overall arithmetic mean toxicities across all individuals were 398.2 ± 471.0 MU/g for TTXs and 1,101.0 ± 1,404.0 MU/g for STX, with large individual variability reflected by high coefficients of variation (118.3% and 127.5%, respectively). Although average TTXs toxicity was slightly higher in crab specimens from Ly Son Island and STX toxicity tended to be higher in the crabs from Phu Quy Island, <i>t</i> test analysis showed no statistically significant differences (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05) between specimens from the two islands for either toxin group. Given the occasional harvesting of reef crabs and the frequent misidentification of toxic Xanthid crabs as edible species, these findings pose an important public health concern. This study provides the first detailed toxin profile of <i>Z. aeneus</i> from Viet Nam and emphasizes the urgent need for public awareness, consumption advisories, and routine monitoring of toxic crabs in Vietnamese coastal waters.</p>

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The Occurrence of Tetrodotoxin and Saxitoxin in the Xanthid Crab Zosimus aeneus from Vietnamese Coastal Waters

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月24日

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  • Khanh Hy Le Ho,
  • Thi Thiet Doan,
  • Bao Vy Phan,
  • Xuan Ky Pham,
  • Minh-Thu Phan,
  • Thao My Nguyen Le,
  • Thi Thu Thao Le,
  • Kwang-Sik Choi,
  • Dang Duc Nguyen,
  • Ngoc Tung Nguyen,
  • Viet Ha Dao

摘要

Occurring on coral reefs in Indo-West Pacific waters, the Xanthid crab Zosimus aeneus is recognized as one of the most toxic marine crabs due to its content of tetrodotoxins (TTXs) and paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs). However, information on the toxin profiles of this species in Vietnamese waters has been lacking. In this study, specimens of Z. aeneus were collected from Ly Son Island and Phu Quy Island, Viet Nam, and their toxicity and toxin composition were analyzed using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC–MS/MS). Both TTXs (including TTX, 4-epiTTX, and 4,9-anhydro-TTX) and saxitoxin (STX) were detected simultaneously in the soft tissues, the edible part relevant to human consumption. A high prevalence of toxicity was observed: 87.5% (7/8) of specimens from Ly Son Island and all specimens from Phu Quy Island (100%, 6/6) tested positive for toxins. The overall arithmetic mean toxicities across all individuals were 398.2 ± 471.0 MU/g for TTXs and 1,101.0 ± 1,404.0 MU/g for STX, with large individual variability reflected by high coefficients of variation (118.3% and 127.5%, respectively). Although average TTXs toxicity was slightly higher in crab specimens from Ly Son Island and STX toxicity tended to be higher in the crabs from Phu Quy Island, t test analysis showed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between specimens from the two islands for either toxin group. Given the occasional harvesting of reef crabs and the frequent misidentification of toxic Xanthid crabs as edible species, these findings pose an important public health concern. This study provides the first detailed toxin profile of Z. aeneus from Viet Nam and emphasizes the urgent need for public awareness, consumption advisories, and routine monitoring of toxic crabs in Vietnamese coastal waters.