title: Bioaccumulation of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins from the cyanobacterium Anabaena circinalis by the freshwater mussel Alathyria condola.
abstract: The Australian freshwater mussel Alathyria condola accumulated high levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins when fed the neurotoxic cyanobacterium Anabaena circinalis, shown recently to contain high concentrations of C-toxins and gonyautoxins. Significant accumulation (>80 mu g/100 g of mussel flesh) was detected following 2-3 exposure to water containing 2 x 105 cells/ml A. circinalis. Only trace accumulation of PSP toxins was demonstrated over long-term (5 week) exposure at low concentration (c. 104 cells/ml). The relative abundance of C-toxins, gonyautoxins and saxitoxins in mussels generally matched the toxin profiles of the dietary A. circinalis, although there were differences in the GTX2/3 and C1/2 ratios with time, and an increase in abundance of decarbamoylgonyautoxins. Analysis of mussel tissues after 7 days, exposure to A. circinalis revealed that 96% of the toxins were accumulated in the viscera. As in marine waters, the bioaccumulation of PSP toxins in freshwater mussels may pose a health risk to humans and animals, especially in areas where seasonally decreasing water levels expose mussel beds to surface scums of toxic cyanobacteria.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Division of Water Resources, Griffith, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D017033:Anabaena / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D051379:Mice; D012530:Saxitoxin / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012530:Saxitoxin