Abstract
Cyanobacteria are known to produce a wide array of metabolites, including various classes of toxins. Among these, hepatotoxins (Microcystins), neurotoxins (Anatoxin-A and PSP toxins) or cytotoxins (Cylindrospermopsins) have been subjected to numerous, individual studies during the past twenty years. Reports of toxins co-occurrences, however, remain scarce in the literature. The present work is an inventory of cyanobacteria with a particular focus on Nostocales and their associated toxin classes from 2007 to 2010 in ten lakes used for drinking water production in France. The results show that potential multiple toxin producing species are commonly encountered in cyanobacteria populations. Individual toxin classes were detected in 75% of all samples. Toxin co-occurrences appeared in 40% of samples as two- or three-toxin combinations (with 35% for the microcystins–anatoxin combination), whereas four-toxin class combinations only appeared in 1% of samples. Toxin co-occurrences could be partially correlated to species composition and water temperature. Peak concentrations however could never be observed simultaneously and followed distinct, asymmetrical distribution patterns. As observations are the key for preventive management and risk assessment, these results indicate that water monitoring should search for all four toxin classes simultaneously instead of focusing on the most frequent toxins, i.e., microcystins.
Highlights
Cyanobacteria proliferations are a worldwide consequence of lake eutrophication, with potential public health issues for water management, water production and recreational use such as bathing.Despite constant research efforts for the last 30 years, toxin production and occurrence, i.e., why, when and which species will produce any toxin, alone or in any combination with other toxins, is still insufficiently understood
The present work is an inventory of cyanobacteria with a particular focus on Nostocales and their associated toxin classes from 2007 to 2010 in ten lakes used for drinking water production in France
Cyanobacterial toxins include a wide variety of molecules, such as hepatotoxins, cytotoxins, neurotoxins such as anatoxin-a, paralytic shellfish poisons (PSP) toxins (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) or dermatotoxins such as Lyngbyatoxin, a potent dermatitis agent [1]
Summary
Despite constant research efforts for the last 30 years, toxin production and occurrence, i.e., why, when and which species will produce any toxin, alone or in any combination with other toxins, is still insufficiently understood. Cyanobacterial toxins include a wide variety of molecules, such as hepatotoxins (microcystins and nodularins), cytotoxins (cylindrospermopsins), neurotoxins such as anatoxin-a, PSP toxins (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) or dermatotoxins such as Lyngbyatoxin, a potent dermatitis agent [1]. According to the World Health Organization handbook [2], microcystins (MCs) are the most studied and monitored toxins. MCs are cyclic heptapeptids comprising more than 200 variants [3], Toxins 2018, 10, 283; doi:10.3390/toxins10070283 www.mdpi.com/journal/toxins. Toxins 2018, 10, 283 have already been reported from most countries, and are known to be produced by many common taxa in continental waters such as Microcystis, Planktothrix, Anabaena/Dolichospermum, etc.
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