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. 2014 Jan 28;6(2):488-508.
doi: 10.3390/toxins6020488.

Co-occurrence of the cyanotoxins BMAA, DABA and anatoxin-a in Nebraska reservoirs, fish, and aquatic plants

Maitham Ahmed Al-Sammak  1 , Kyle D Hoagland  2 , David Cassada  3 , Daniel D Snow  4
Affiliations

Co-occurrence of the cyanotoxins BMAA, DABA and anatoxin-a in Nebraska reservoirs, fish, and aquatic plants

Maitham Ahmed Al-Sammak et al. Toxins (Basel). .

Abstract

Several groups of microorganisms are capable of producing toxins in aquatic environments. Cyanobacteria are prevalent blue green algae in freshwater systems, and many species produce cyanotoxins which include a variety of chemical irritants, hepatotoxins and neurotoxins. Production and occurrence of potent neurotoxic cyanotoxins β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), 2,4-diaminobutyric acid dihydrochloride (DABA), and anatoxin-a are especially critical with environmental implications to public and animal health. Biomagnification, though not well understood in aquatic systems, is potentially relevant to both human and animal health effects. Because little is known regarding their presence in fresh water, we investigated the occurrence and potential for bioaccumulation of cyanotoxins in several Nebraska reservoirs. Collection and analysis of 387 environmental and biological samples (water, fish, and aquatic plant) provided a snapshot of their occurrence. A sensitive detection method was developed using solid phase extraction (SPE) in combination with high pressure liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (HPLC/FD) with confirmation by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). HPLC/FD detection limits ranged from 5 to 7 µg/L and LC/MS/MS detection limits were <0.5 µg/L, while detection limits for biological samples were in the range of 0.8-3.2 ng/g depending on the matrix. Based on these methods, measurable levels of these neurotoxic compounds were detected in approximately 25% of the samples, with detections of BMAA in about 18.1%, DABA in 17.1%, and anatoxin-a in 11.9%.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structures of β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA), 2,4-diaminobutyric acid dihydrochloride (DABA) and anatoxin-a.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of BMAA, DABA, anatoxin-a concentrations measured in this study with total microcystin levels reported for reservoirs sampled in 2009 (left) and 2010 (right). Microcystin concentrations are measured by immunoassay and taken from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) website.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of HPLC/FD and LC/MS/MS chromatograms for extract from reservoir water samples collected from Rockford reservoir in 2009. LC/MS/MS selected reaction monitoring (SRM) peaks at 10.08, 18.31, 20.38, 24.03, and 27.95 min correspond to detections of α-aminobutyric acid (IS), BMAA, DABA, phenylalanine, and anatoxin-a, respectively. Details of HPLC and LC/MS/MS conditions are provided in Al-Sammak et al. (2013). Note that extracts were analyzed on different instruments.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Nebraska map showing reservoirs under study locations for the present study in red dots and other Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) monitored locations in green.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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