Abstract

Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Cyanobacteria, Nostocales) producing microcystins in Corrientes, Argentina. Acta toxicol. argent. [online]. 2014, vol.22, n.3, pp.145-148. ISSN 1851-3743.

Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszyn´ ska) Seenayya et SubbaRaju 1972 is a species capable of generating toxins that negatively impact on drinking water quality as well as other water uses. Northern strains can produce the hepatotoxin cylindrospermopsin, while southern strains can produce the neurotoxin saxitoxins. Microcystins production by this species has not been reported to date.The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of microcystins in raw water of Steam Yatay in Corrientes, Argentina, and cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxins and microcystins in strains of C. raciborskii isolated from that stream, by means of Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA).Results were negative for microcystins in raw water, as well as for cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxins in algal culture. Microcystins were detected in algal culture by ELISA test, at concentrations of 2.34-2.50 μg. L^-1 of microcystin-LR, and subsequent confirmation by means of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Molecular studies should be carried out in the future to establish the genetic characterization of the strain under study and investigate their phylogenetic relationship with other strains from diverse environments.

Keywords : Algae culture; Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii; Microcystins; Toxins.