First report of the toxigenic Nitzschia navis-varingica (Bacillariophyceae) isolated from Tebrau Straits, Johor, Malaysia

• Published in: Toxicon (Oxford) 2015-12, Vol.108, p.257-263
• Main Authors: Suriyanti, S.N.P., Usup, Gires
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amnesic shellfish poisoning; Bacillariophyceae; Benthic diatom; Brackish; Cage; Cell Culture Techniques; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Culture; Diatoms - classification; Diatoms - isolation & purification; Domoic acid; Estuaries; Kainic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Kainic Acid - analysis; Kainic Acid - chemistry; Malaysia; Marine; Marine Toxins - analysis; Marine Toxins - chemistry; Mass Spectrometry; Nitzschia; Nitzschia navis-varingica; Pseudo-nitzschia; Salinity; Seafood; Strain; Straits; Toxic; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0041-0101; 1879-3150
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.10.017

Screening of the occurrence of potentially toxic diatoms was carried out at two sites of cage cultures in Tebrau Straits, Johor. Phytoplankton samples from Sungai Pendas and Teluk Sengat were collected using a 20 μm mesh plankton net and salinity was recorded in-situ. Nitzschia and Pseudo-nitzschia cells were isolated and established into clonal cultures. All cultures were tested for domoic acid using HPLC-UV analysis and verified by LC-MS analysis. Three Nitzschia spp. and one Pseudo-nitzschia sp. were identified from these locations. Toxic and non-toxic strains of Nitzschia navis-varingica are found at the cage culture areas. Cellular toxin content in the toxic strain of N. navis-varingica is 1.8 pg cell−1. This is a new record from Malaysia and this species was isolated from estuarine water with salinity 28 PSU. The discovery of toxic Nitzschia species in Tebrau Straits indicates the potential for domoic acid accumulation in seafood. •First report of toxigenic diatom species Nitzschia navis-varingica from Malaysia.•Toxic profile of N. navis-varingica culture was verified using LC-MS.•Cellular toxin content of the toxic strain is 1.8 pg cell−1.