Mouse toxicity of Anabaena flos-aquae from Lake Dianchi, China.
Some species of the genera Anabaena can produce various kinds of cyanotoxins, which may pose risks to environment and human health. Anabaena has frequently been observed in eutrophic freshwater of China in recent years, but its toxicity has been reported only in a few studies. In the present study, the toxicity of an Anabaena flos-aquae strain isolated from Lake Dianchi was investigated. Acute toxicity testing was performed by mouse bioassay using crude extracts from the lyophilized cultures. The mice exposed to crude extracts showed visible symptoms of toxicity and died within 10-24 h of the injection. Serum biochemical parameters were evaluated by the use of commercial diagnostic kits. Significant alterations were found in the serum biochemical parameters: alkaline phosphatase (AKP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), AST/ALT ratio, total protein content, albumin content, albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Ssr), and total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC). Histopathological observations were carried out with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stain under light microscope. Severe lesions were seen in the livers, kidneys, and lungs of the mice injected with crude extracts. The alterations of biochemical parameters were in a dose-dependent manner, and the severities of histological lesions were in the same manner. Based on biochemical and histological studies, this research firstly shows the presence of toxin-producing Anabaena species in Lake Dianchi and the toxic effects of its crude extracts on mammals.
Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, People's Republic of China.
Xiaojie
X
Pan
Fengyi
F
Chang
Yongding
Y
Liu
Dunhai
D
Li
Aihua
A
Xu
Yinwu
Y
Shen
Zebo
Z
Huang
D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D001681:Biological Assay; D002681:China; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D046869:Dolichospermum flos-aquae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D052998:Microcystins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins