title: Anatoxin-a toxin in the cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens from a fishing pond in northern Italy.
abstract: A heavy algal bloom occurring in a fishing pond in northern Italy full of Salmo trutta was examined for algae taxonomy and toxic production. The dominant algal species (98%) was identified as the cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens (D.C. ex GOMONT) Komarek Anagnostidis, based on morphological examination, and it was revealed to be toxic in mouse and Vibrio fischeri bioassays. The toxin was identified as anatoxin-a using high-performance liquid chromatography and confirmed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The mouse bioassay gave signs of poisoning, as previously reported for anatoxin-a. The LC-MS confirmed the presence of an anatoxin-a peak at m/z 166 (M+H+). The content of toxin in the field population was estimated at 12.13 microg/g of fresh cells. The bloom was sustained by the very high N/P ratio in the water. This is the first report in Italy of an anatoxin-a-producing Planktothrix rubescens population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Hygiene, National Health Institute, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viaggiu
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Melchiorre
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Volpi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Corcia
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garibaldi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crichigno
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruno
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000633:toxicity; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D005068:Eutrophication; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D052998:Microcystins; D009026:Mortality; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D014326:Tropanes; D014337:Trout; D014733:Vibrio / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D009498:Neurotoxins; D014326:Tropanes; C509783:anatoxin a