Health hazards for terrestrial vertebrates from toxic cyanobacteria in surface water ecosystems

Abstract

-Toxigenic cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes that are most often recognized in marine and freshwater systems, such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and estuaries. When environmental conditions (such as light, nutrients, water column stability, etc.) are suitable for their growth, cyanobacteria may proliferate and form toxic blooms in the upper, sunlit layers. The biology and ecology of cyanobacteria have been extensively studied throughout the world during the last two decades, but we still know little about the factors and processes involved in regulating toxin production for many cyanobacterial species. In this minireview, we discuss these microorganisms, and more especially the toxins they produce, as a potential and important health risk for wild and domestic animals.

The past and future of phytoplankton in the UK's largest lake, Lough Neagh

“…which form a perpetual large crop. These cyanobacteria have the potential to produce toxins which pose a risk to both human and animal health (Briand et al, 2003;Codd et al, 2005). Cyanobacteria may also pose problems in water treatment works with some toxins difficult to remove, especially during bloom periods (Hitzfeld et al, 2000).…”

Impact of internal waves on the spatial distribution of Planktothrix rubescens (cyanobacteria) in an alpine lake

“…This species is particularly well adapted for growing at low light intensities and also at low temperatures (Oberhaus et al, 2007) and has been found in many prealpine lakes (Walsby and Schanz, 2002;Ernst et al, 2009). In addition, P. rubescens is able to produce microcystins , which are dangerous hepatoxins that threaten both human and animal health Briand et al, 2003).…”

Developmental Biology of Neoplastic Growth

“…Extracts of cyanobacteria -blue green algae blooms collected from various sources -induced liver damage in mice that was associated with increased mortality (Briand et al 2003), damage for enterocytes isolated from chicken small intestine (Falconer et al 1992), and decreased body weight in BALB/c mice (Shen et al 2003). The toxic effects of microcystin-LR on carp, rainbow trout and loach have also been studied, since the occurrence of fish kills is associated with toxic cyanobacterial blooms (Fischer and Dietrich 2000).…”