Global epidemiology of paralytic shellfish poisoning: a systematic search literature review

We are in the midst of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–30), which provides a timely opportunity for the epidemiological community to assess the global burden of thalassogenic diseases such as paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). In this epidemiological review, we used systematic search tools to summarise 152 peer-reviewed articles describing human PSP cases. Our analysis revealed that PSP cases have been reported from every inhabited continent; symptoms reported by patients might differ by continent; and exposure sources are not limited to the eponymic shellfish. Furthermore, most cases described lacked demographic details that could aid in a more comprehensive understanding of PSP epidemiology. Overall, this Review highlights PSP as a true global health concern; however, the overall poor quality of available data underscores the need for greater epidemiological attention as an understudied global health challenge.