title: Harmful dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata Fukuyo: detection of ovatoxins in field samples and cell immunolocalization using antipalytoxin antibodies.
abstract: Ostreopsis cf. ovata, a benthic dinoflagellate often blooming along the Mediterranean coasts, has been associated with toxic events ranging from dyspnea to mild dermatitis. In late September 2009, an Ostreopsis cf. ovata bloom occurred in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea; Italy), causing pruritus and mild dermatitis in beachgoers. An integrated study was initiated to characterize Ostreopsis cells by light and confocal microscopy, PCR techniques, immunocytochemistry, and high resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HR LC-MS). The presence of Ostreopsis cf. ovata of the Atlantic/Mediterranean clade was unambiguously established by morphological and genetic analyses in field samples. Several palytoxin-like compounds (ovatoxin-a,-b,-c,-d,-e) were identified by HR LC-MS, ovatoxin-a being the most abundant (45-64 pg/cell). Surprisingly, no palytoxin was detected. For the first time, monoclonal and polyclonal antipalytoxin antibodies revealed the intracellular cytoplasmic localization of ovatoxins, suggesting their cross-reactivity with these antibodies. Since harmful dinoflagellates do not always produce toxins, the immunocytochemical localization of ovatoxins, although qualitative, can provide an early warning for toxic Ostreopsis cells before their massive diffusion and/or concentration in seafood.
authors.affiliation: Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Department, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 91-93, 33100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Honsell
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Bortoli
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boscolo
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dell'Aversano
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Battocchi
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fontanive
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Penna
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berti
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasumoto
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciminiello
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: Aurelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tubaro
mesh_terms: D000178:Acrylamides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D013997:Time Factors; D000095702:Polyether Toxins
chemical_list: D000178:Acrylamides; D000906:Antibodies; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms; D008387:Marine Toxins; C010272:palytoxin; D000095702:Polyether Toxins