title: Toxicity of the cyanobacterium Limnothrix AC0243 to male Balb/c mice.
abstract: A growing list of freshwater cyanobacteria are known to produce toxic agents, a fact which makes these organisms of concern to water authorities. A cultured strain of Limnothrix (AC0243) was recently shown to have toxic effects in in vitro bioassays. It did not produce any of the known cyanobacterial toxins. The intrapertoneal toxicity of aqueous extracts of the material was therefore tested in mice to determine whether the observed effects might be of public health relevance to drinking water supplies. The results indicate that Limnothrix AC0243 is acutely toxic to mice, causing widespread cellular necrosis in the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract within 24 h of exposure. Sub-lethal effects lasted at least 7 d. These results suggest that Limnothrix AC0243 produces a novel toxin ("Limnothrixin") and that further work is therefore urgently required to quantify the potential public health implications.
authors: Australian Water Quality Centre, 250 Victoria Square, GPO Box 1751, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. andrew.humpage@sawater.com.au
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Humpage
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Falconer
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Bernard
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Froscio
authors: Larelle
authors: L
authors: Fabbro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D052998:Microcystins / Q000633:toxicity*; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins