Production of anatoxin-a by cyanobacterial strains isolated from Portuguese fresh water systems

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

Joana Osswald (Author) Other; Sandra Rellan (Author) Other; Ana Gago Martinez (Author) Other; Vitor Vasconcelos (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Ecotoxicology

Vol. 18

Pages: 1110-1115

ISSN: 0963-9292

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 31 Citations

Scopus - 33 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-EJM

DOI: 10.1007/s10646-009-0375-5

Abstract (EN): The occurrence of anatoxin-a in several freshwater systems in Portugal and its production by Portuguese cyanobacterial strains, after cultivation in laboratory, were studied. Surface water samples from 9 water bodies, for recreational and human consumption usage, were surveyed for anatoxin-a presence and for obtaining cultures of pure cyanobacterial strains. Anatoxin-a analysis was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection (FLD) followed by Mass Spectrometry (MS) confirmation. No anatoxin-a was detected in all the natural water samples (limit of detection (LOD) = 25 ng l(-1)) but among the 22 isolated cyanobacterial strains, 13 could produce anatoxin-a in laboratory conditions (LOD = 3 ng g(-1) dw). This proportion of anatoxin-a producing strains (59.1%) in laboratory is discussed considering the hypothesis that anatoxin-a is a more frequent metabolite in cyanobacteria than it was thought before and making its occurrence in Portuguese freshwaters almost certain. Therefore, health and ecological risks caused by anatoxin-a in Portugal, should be seriously considered.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6