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      Screening the toxicity and toxin content of blooms of the cyanobacterium Trichodesmium erythraeum (Ehrenberg) in northeast Brasil

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          Abstract

          Blooms of the cyanobacterium Trichodesmium occur in massive colored patches over large areas of tropical and subtropical oceans. Recently, the interest in such events has increased given their role in major nitrogen and carbon dioxide oceanic fluxes. Trichodesmium occurs all along the Brazilian coast and patches frequently migrate towards the coast. In this paper we screen the toxicity and toxin content of Trichodesmium blooms off the coast of Bahia state. Four samples, collected from February to April 2007, were analyzed. Organisms were identified and assessed for toxicity by means of several methods. Analogues of microcystins, cylindrospermopsins and saxitoxins were analyzed using HPLC. Microcystins were also assayed through ELISA. Results showed dominance of T. erythraeum, which makes up as much as 99% of cell counts. Other organisms found in smaller quantities include the dinoflagellates Prorocentrum minimum and P. rhathymum. Extracts from all samples delayed or interrupted sea urchin larval development, but presented no acute toxicity during a mouse bioassay. Saxitoxin congeners and microcystins were present at low concentrations in all samples, occurrences that had not previously been reported in the literature. Despite our finding of saxitoxin analogues and microcystins in Trichodesmium blooms, these toxins do not represent a potential harm to human health by primary contact. We conclude, based on our results and those reported in the recent literature, which differ from results published in 1963, that although toxins are present, there is no evidence that T. erythraeum blooms represent a threat to humans.

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          Marine plankton diatoms of the west coast of North America

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            Cyanophyta

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              Zur vervollkommnung der quantitativen phytoplankton‐methodik

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                Author and article information

                Journal
                jvatitd
                Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
                J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis
                Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos (CEVAP/UNESP) (Botucatu, SP, Brazil )
                1678-9199
                2009
                : 15
                : 2
                : 204-215
                Affiliations
                [01] Itajaí Santa Catarina orgnameVale do Itajaí University orgdiv1Center of Technological Earth and Marine Sciences Brazil
                Article
                S1678-91992009000200004 S1678-9199(09)01500204
                10.1590/S1678-91992009000200004
                65f6ff94-e57d-4afe-bfa3-019122878e24

                This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

                History
                : 23 September 2008
                : 06 June 2008
                Page count
                Figures: 0, Tables: 0, Equations: 0, References: 31, Pages: 12
                Product

                SciELO Brazil

                Categories
                Original Papers

                bloom,Trichodesmium,harmful algae,microcystin,saxitoxin
                bloom, Trichodesmium, harmful algae, microcystin, saxitoxin

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