Occurrence of saxitoxins and an anatoxin-a(s)-like anticholinesterase in a Brazilian drinking water supply

Blooms of toxic cyanobacteria are very common in Brazilian waterbodies, as a consequence of eutrophication processes. Our investigations were focused on the detection of neurotoxins during a cyanobacterial bloom in Tapacurá reservoir, which serves as a water supply for Recife city in northeastern Br...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Harmful algae 2005-06, Vol.4 (4), p.743-753
Main Authors: Molica, Renato J.R., Oliveira, Eduardo J.A., Carvalho, Paulo V.V.C., Costa, Anapaula N.S.F., Cunha, Maristela C.C., Melo, Gustavo L., Azevedo, Sandra M.F.O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
Anabaena spiroides
Anatoxin-a(s)
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacterial bloom
Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Fresh water environment
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Microcystis aeruginosa
Pseudanabaena
Saxitoxins
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Summary:Blooms of toxic cyanobacteria are very common in Brazilian waterbodies, as a consequence of eutrophication processes. Our investigations were focused on the detection of neurotoxins during a cyanobacterial bloom in Tapacurá reservoir, which serves as a water supply for Recife city in northeastern Brazil. We also investigated the possible presence of neurotoxins in strains of Anabaena spiroides isolated from this environment. Samples were collected from March to May 2002 at the water surface and close to the dam. Limnological parameters (conductivity, pH, inorganic nutrients) and cyanobacterial abundance were measured. The samples were assayed for toxicity by mouse bioassay and acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting activity by a colorimetric method; saxitoxins (paralytic shellfish poisons) were quantified by a HPLC-FLD postcolumn derivatization method. The dominant cyanobacteria during the bloom were found to be A. spiroides, Pseudanabaena sp., Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and Microcystis aeruginosa. The mouse bioassays showed the presence of neurotoxins during both A. spiroides and C. raciborskii dominance, whereas anticholinesterase activity was only observed during periods of A. spiroides dominance. The A. spiroides strains isolated during the study also exhibited an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. HPLC-FLD chromatograms of bloom material extracts revealed the presence of saxitoxin, neosaxitoxin and dc-saxitoxin, probably produced by C. raciborskii.
ISSN:1568-9883
1878-1470
DOI:10.1016/j.hal.2004.11.001