Abstract
Marine pelagic diazotrophic cyanobacteria of the genus Trichodesmium (Oscillatoriales) are widespread throughout the tropics and subtropics, and are particularly common in the waters of New Caledonia. Blooms of Trichodesmium are suspected to be a potential source of toxins in the ciguatera food chain and were previously reported to contain several types of paralyzing toxins. The toxicity of water-soluble extracts of Trichodesmium spp. were analyzed by mouse bioassay and Neuroblastoma assay and their toxic compounds characterized using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry techniques. Here, we report the first identification of palytoxin and one of its derivatives, 42-hydroxy-palytoxin, in field samples of Trichodesmium collected in the New Caledonian lagoon. The possible role played by Trichodesmium blooms in the development of clupeotoxism, this human intoxication following the ingestion of plankton-eating fish and classically associated with Ostreopsis blooms, is also discussed.
Highlights
IntroductionTrichodesmium spp. are marine pelagic cyanobacteria belonging to the order Oscillatoriales
Trichodesmium spp. are marine pelagic cyanobacteria belonging to the order Oscillatoriales.These filamentous, non-heterocystous cyanobacteria are known for their ability to fix atmospheric dinitrogen [1,2,3]
Trichodesmium blooms are widely distributed in oligotrophic regions of the oceans throughout the tropics and subtropics [1,4,5]
Summary
Trichodesmium spp. are marine pelagic cyanobacteria belonging to the order Oscillatoriales. These filamentous, non-heterocystous cyanobacteria are known for their ability to fix atmospheric dinitrogen [1,2,3]. In 1991, Hawser [11] reported the death of oysters following Trichodesmium blooms The toxicity of these cyanobacteria was tested on various species of zooplankton and mortality of certain crustaceans (brine shrimp and two species of copepods) was demonstrated. Based on chemical analysis studies, Hahn and Capra [14] were the first to hypothesize that Trichodesmium erythraeum could be a potential source of toxin in ciguatera, a typical foodborne intoxication in the tropics due to the ingestion of fish contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs) [15,16,17]. The compounds extracted from T. erythraeum and from samples of molluscs, collected during, and shortly after, these Trichodesmium blooms, were positive for CTXs-like toxins [14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
