Cyanobacterial Toxins

Toxin production in cyanobacteria varies with species, time of year, cell concentration and other environmental and physiological factors. Exposure to cyanobacterial toxins can occur via skin contact, drinking, inhalation and haemodialysis. The symptoms below are generally extreme examples, and high exposure to the toxins would be required to produce these effects.

Anatoxin-a(s)

What is it?

A neurotoxic, cyclic N-hydroxyguanidine alkaloid phosphate ester.

What does it do?

Inhibits acetylcholinesterase.

Symptoms

Exposure to anatoxin-a (s) causes an increase in salivation, lacrimation, ataxia, diarrhoea, dyspnoea and death within an hour. Signs similar to anatoxin-a may also occur. This toxin has not currently been recorded in New Zealand (Wood & Parton, 2003).

Aplysiatoxin

What is it?

An alkyl phenol.

What does it do?

Is currently researched in context of causing cancer.

Symptoms

Extreme inflammatory agent causing severe skin dermatitis, diarrhoea, burning sensation in throat and mouth, lethargy and muscle contractions (in mice) (Nagai et al. 1996).

Cylindrospermopsin

What is it?

A cyclic guanidine alkaloid, included in the cyanobacterial hepatoxin group

What does it do?

Blocks protein synthesis with a major effect on liver cells.

Symptoms

Causes damage to the kidneys, spleen, intestine, thymus, liver and heart in vertebrates (Codd et al., 1999).

LPS

What is it?

A lipopolysaccharide endotoxin.

What does it do?

Pyrogenic.

Symptoms

Less toxic than Salmonella LPS. But requires further investigation, as it may be fatal when present in high concentrations (Codd et al., 1999).

Microcystins/Nodularians

What are they?

A cyclic peptide, included in the cyanobacterial hepatoxin group.

What do they do?

Inhibits eukaryotic protein phosphatases. In eukaryotes these protein phosphatases regulate a wide range of developmental, metabolic and physiological processes, which may be inhibited or disrupted by the presence of high concentrations of microcystins and nodularians. Disrupts vertebrate liver structure and function.

Symptoms

Weakness, recumbency, pallor, cold extremities, laboured breathing, vomiting and diarrhoea. Respiratory arrest. Haemorrhaging into the liver. Microcystins have caused tumour growth in animal studies and may be linked with liver cancer. These toxins have also been associated with skin irritation including dermatitis, conjunctival and allergic reactions occurring due to skin contact (Codd et al., 1999).

Saxitoxins

What are they?

A group of at least 19 carbamate alkaloid neurotoxins. Saxitoxins are also produced by marine dinoflagellates.

What do they do?

Inhibits neurotransmission by blocking sodium channels.

Symptoms

They cause paralysis, respiratory depression and respiratory failure. In people incoordination, confused speech, nausea, vomiting, eye irritation, and respiratory distress may occur.

References

Bernard, C., Harvey, M., Briand, J.F., Bire, R., Krys, S. and Fontaine, J.J. (2003). Toxicological Comparison of Diverse Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii Strains: Evidence of Liver Damage Caused by a French C. raciborskii Strain. Environmental Toxicology, 18: 176-186.

Clifford, M.N., Walker, R., Ijomah, P., Wright, J., Murray, C.K. and Hardy, R. (1992). Do Saxitoxin-like substances have a role in scombrotoxicosis. Food Additives and Contaminants, 9: 657-667.

Codd, G.A., Bell, S.G., Kunimitsu, K., Ward, C.J., Beattie, K.A. and Metcalf, J.S. (1999). Cyanobacterial toxins, exposure routes and human health. European Journal of Phycology, 34: 405-415.

Nagai, H., Yasumoto, T. and Hokama, Y. (1996). Aplysiatoxin and debromoaplysiatoxin as the causative agents of a red alga Gracilaria coronopifolia poisoning in Hawaii. Toxicon, 37: 753-761.

Steffenson, D., Burch, M., Nicholson, B., Drikas, M. and Baker, P. (1999). Management of toxic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in Australia. Environmental Toxicology, 14: 183-185.

Wood, S.A. and Parton, K. (2003). Livestock poisoning by blue-green algae. VETscript, March 2003