title: Chemical and biological evidence links microcystins to salmon 'netpen liver disease'.
abstract: Evidence is presented that links microcystins to a severe liver disease that occurs in Atlantic salmon that are netpen-reared in coastal British Columbia. Liquid chromatography-linked protein phosphatase bioassay analysis of extracts of liver tissue taken from Atlantic salmon afflicted with netpen liver disease showed the presence of an inhibitor of protein phosphatase that was chromatographically indistinguishable from microcystin-LR. Analysis of liver tissue from healthy control fish showed a complete absence of microcystin-LR. Intraperitoneal injection of microcystin-LR into healthy Atlantic salmon re-created the pathologic changes of netpen liver disease, including diffuse necrosis and hepatic megalocytosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Luu
authors.forename: D Z
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Blanc
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000032:analysis*; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012474:Salmon / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; C057862:cyanoginosin LR