Experimental determination of the bioconcentration factors for anatoxin-a in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Publication Type  Journal Article
Year of Publication  2011
Authors  Joana Osswald, Joana Azevedo, Vitor Vasconcelos, Lucia Guilhermino
Journal Title  Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Volume  1
Issue  2
Pages  77-86
Journal Date  08/2011
Short Title  Experimental determination of the bioconcentration factors for anatoxin-a in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Publisher  International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences
ISSN Number  2220-8860
Key Words  bioconcentration factor; anatoxin-a; Oncorhynchus mykiss
Abstract  

Anatoxin-a is a cyanobacterial neurotoxin with a worldwide occurrence in freshwater ecosystems. As a result of global climate changes, it is expected to occur an increase of eutrophication processes and of frequency and intensity of cyanobacterial blooms in several regions of the world. In these conditions, the water concentrations of cyanotoxins, including anatoxin-a, may increase reaching toxic levels, with an additional risk for organisms able to bioconcentrate it in their body. Considering the importance that these processes may have in freshwater ecosystems and the lack of knowledge that still exists on the topic, this study tested the hypothesis that rainbow trout is able to bioconcentrate anatoxin-a. A 96 h bioassay was carried out by exposing juvenile fish to three concentrations of anatoxin-a (132 ug/L, 264 ug/L and 524 ug/L) through the test media. At the end of the assay, the actual concentrations of the toxin were determined in the test media and in the whole fish body by HPLC-FLD and the bioconcentration factors (BCF) were determined. At all the tested concentrations of anatoxin-a, the fish body concentrations of the toxin were higher than the corresponding water concentrations, with BCF ranging from 30 to 47 based on fresh weight. These findings indicate that the rainbow trout is able to bioconcentrate anatoxin-a, even during short-term exposures and this process may considerably increase the risk of being intoxicated in real scenarios. Since other species of fish may have also this capability and considering that they are key species in a considerable number of freshwater ecosystems, more research should be done on this most important topic in the actual context of global climate changes.

URL  http://www.iaees.org/publications/journals/piaees/articles/2011-1(2)/Experimental-determination-bioconcentration-factors.pdf
DOI  DOI 10.0000/issn-2220-8860-piaees-2011-v1-0008
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