First detection of cyanobacterial PSP (paralytic shellfish poisoning) toxins in Spanish freshwaters

Toxicon. 2011 May;57(6):918-21. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2011.02.022. Epub 2011 Mar 2.

Abstract

Presence of the paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) saxitoxin, neosaxitoxin, decarbamoyl saxitoxin and gonyautoxin-5 was analyzed by mass spectrometry in 41 Spanish freshwaters and 13 strains of potential PST-producing planktonic cyanobacteria. Toxins were detected in five waterbodies, but were absent from the isolated strains. PST containing samples belonged to the same geographical region (South Western Spain) and were most likely related to the presence of the genus Aphanizomenon.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cyanobacteria / chemistry*
  • Environmental Monitoring / statistics & numerical data*
  • Fresh Water / chemistry*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Saxitoxin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Saxitoxin / analysis
  • Spain

Substances

  • decarbamoyloxysaxitoxin
  • Saxitoxin
  • gonyautoxin V
  • neosaxitoxin