Paralytic Toxin Producing Dinoflagellates in Latin America: Ecology and Physiology

Christine J Band-Schmidt,José J Bustillos-Guzmán,Ignacio Leyva-Valencia,Francisco E Hernández-Sandoval,Dulce V Ramírez-Rodríguez,Lorena M Durán-Riveroll,Erick J Núñez-Vázquez,David J López-Cortés

doi:10.3389/fmars.2019.00042

Abstract

In this review we summarize the current state of knowledge regarding taxonomy, bloom dynamics, toxicity, autoecology, and trophic interactions, of saxitoxin producing dinoflagellates in this region. The dinoflagellates Gymnodinium catenatum, Pyrodinium bahamense and several species of Alexandrium are saxitoxin producers, and have been responsible of paralytic shellfish poisoning in different regions of Latin America, causing intoxications and important fisheries losses. The species distribution differ; most harmful algal blooms of G. catenatum are from the northern region, however this species has also been reported in central and southern regions. Blooms of P. bahamense are mostly reported in North and Central America, while blooms of Alexandrium species are more common in South America, however this genus is widely spread in Latin America. Species and regional differences are contrasted, with the aim to contribute to future guidelines for an international scientific approach for research and monitoring activities that are needed to increase our understanding of paralytic toxin producing dinoflagellates in this region.

Highlights

Neurotoxic paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are produced in the marine environment mainly by dinoflagellates of three genera associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs)
We summarize the current state of knowledge regarding PSTs producing dinoflagellates in Latin America (LAm), contrasting the regional differences with the aim to contribute to future guidelines for an international scientific approach for research and monitoring activities that are needed to increase our understanding of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) events in this region
The first one determined the effect of two light intensities (120 and 350 μmol quanta m−2s−1) on a strain from Bahía Concepción (BACO) [Murillo-Martínez, 2015, in (Paredes-Banda et al, 2016)], finding that, at the highest light intensity (HL) growth rates were of 0.28 ± 0.06 div day−1, with maximum cell concentration of 5902 cell mL−1; at a lower light intensity (LL) growth decreased in 50% (0.14 div day−1) and the maximum abundance decreased by 45%

Summary

Introduction

Neurotoxic paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are produced in the marine environment mainly by dinoflagellates of three genera associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs). These include about a dozen species of Alexandrium, a single species of Gymnodinium (G. catenatum) and a single species of Pyrodinium (P. bahamense). The least toxic analogs are the N-sulfocarbamoyl (B and C toxins). G. catenatum produces benzoyl analogs (GC), and out of 18 theoretical toxins (Negri et al, 2003a, 2007; Vale, 2008, 2010), 15 benzoyl analogs have been confirmed (Durán-Riveroll et al, 2017) (Figure 1).

Objectives

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Conclusion