title: Anatoxin-a in Irish freshwater and cyanobacteria, determined using a new fluorimetric liquid chromatographic method.
abstract: A new sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was used to determine anatoxin-a in freshwater, following blooms of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Anatoxin-a was converted into a highly fluorescent derivative using 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole and HPLC analysis gave good linear calibrations even at low concentration ranges (1-10 micrograms/liter, r = 0.997). The detection limit for anatoxin-a was 0.02 ng/ml, and this new HPLC method should prove useful for the routine analysis of potable waters. Anatoxin-a was discovered in three major lakes in Ireland using this method and identification was confirmed using gas chromatraphy-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), following acetylation. Anatoxin-a was found in Anabaena, a planktonic cyanobacterium, as well as in a benthic Oscillatoria species. This is the first identification of anatoxin-a in Irish freshwater and this toxin was also implicated as the causative agent in incidents of fatal canine neurotoxicosis.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Cork RTC, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Sherlock
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stack
mesh_terms: D009327:4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D002138:Calibration; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D000458:Cyanobacteria; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D004285:Dogs; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005470:Fluorometry; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007494:Ireland; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D052998:Microcystins; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014326:Tropanes
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D009498:Neurotoxins; D014326:Tropanes; C032930:7-fluoro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole; C509783:anatoxin a; D009327:4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan