Malaysia: Study to harvest horseshoe crabs for medicinal purposes

Horseshoe crabs a lifesaver
Avila Geraldine and Laili Ismail New Straits Times 4 Nov 13;

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE: Sabah govt and varsity carrying out research on local species for use in medical field

KOTA KINABALU: HORSESHOE crabs may not be a popular dish here, but its blood is highly sought after for its medicinal value.

This unique resource promises to put the country on the pharmaceutical map.
Horseshoe crabs are used by the pharmaceutical and medical industries to prevent products from being contaminated by endotoxins.

These products include intravenous drugs, vaccines, and implantable medical as well as dental devices for humans and animals.

At present, Limulus polyphemur, an American horseshoe crab species, is widely used to produce the endotoxin detection kit.

Three of the four crab species in the world, namely Tachypleus gigas, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and Tachypleus tridentatus, can be found in the coastlines of Malaysia.
The Tachypleus tridentatus, especially, is abundant in Sabah waters.

Experts said this particular species was mentioned in British Pharmacopeia (the official collection of standards for UK medicinal products and pharmaceutical substances), as a source of Ameobocyte Lysate, a highly sensitive compound that is used to detect endotoxin contamination.

Recently, the state government, through the Sabah Biodiversity Centre (SaBC) and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), signed a research agreement to study the population of Tachypleus tridentatus and the species' foraging areas in Pitas, Kuala Penyu, Tawau and Lahad Datu.
SaBC allocated RM60,000 for the university to conduct an 18-month research in areas where the local horseshoe crab population is reportedly centred.

Its director, Dr Abdul Fatah Amir, said the study would be a breakthrough for Malaysia, as no local horseshoe crab had been used for medical purposes.

"Information on the Malaysian horseshoe crab population, size and behaviour is lacking, and, therefore, should be gathered, documented and analysed for sustainable management of these unique resources.

"A better understanding of the range, population size and dynamics, as well as a combination of shoreline survey and tagging programme should be carried out."

Fatah said the information gathered at the conclusion of the project would benefit many and allow locals to generate income.

"Normally, these crabs are caught for consumption but it is not a popular delicacy. Sometimes, the crab shells are used as decorations.

"Once researchers have established its potential for medicine, the community will be involved in the harvesting of horseshoe crabs."

He said fishermen could also be involved in supplying horseshoe crabs to the pharmaceutical and medical industries.

Fatah said blood could be drawn from the crab without killing it, before it is returned to its natural habitat unharmed.

He has called on the state government to consider making horseshoe crabs a protected biological resource.

"This will provide the government with accurate data to be used in the planning and development of the endotoxin detection kit industry."