title: Assessment of microcystins in lake water and the omnivorous fish (Carassius gibelio, Bloch) in Lake Pamvotis (Greece) containing dense cyanobacterial bloom.
abstract: Toxin-producing cyanobacteria in lakes and reservoirs form a threat to humans as well as various forms of aquatic life. This study examined the occurrence and distribution of Microcystins (MCYST) in the shallow eutrophic lake Pamvotis (Greece). MCYST concentrations in the tissues (liver, kidneys, intestine, gonads, brain and muscle) of the fish species Carassius gibelio were also examined. Tests were performed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MCYST concentration in water and in the scum of Lake Pamvotis were highest during the warm period (April-October, 2005). Phytoplankton samples were dominated by the genera Microcystis and Anabaena during the same period. MCYST values were always below the WHO Guide level for recreational waters but much higher than the WHO Guide level for drinking water. It was found that MCYST can accumulate in the fish tissues of C. gibelio. Even though the target organ for MCYST is the liver, in our study MCYST were found also in the rest of C. gibelio tissues in the following order: intestine> kidney> > brain>gonads> muscle. Muscle tissue contained concentrations of microcystins that correspond to 0.096 microg/kg/day well above the recommended limit for human consumption (0.04 microg/Kg/day).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Zoology, Department of Biological Applications and Technologies, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Ifigenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kagalou
authors.forename: Theodoti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bacopoulos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leonardos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005068:Eutrophication; D005399:Fishes; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D006115:Greece; D052998:Microcystins / Q000032:analysis*; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D052998:Microcystins