Author(s)

Maria do Carmo Bittencourt-Oliveira, Viviane Piccin-Santos, Paula Kujbida, Ariadne do Nascimento Moura

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It is reported for the first time in Brazil and South America the presence of cylindrospermopsin (CYN) in water supply reservoirs. CYN is a powerful hepatotoxic alkaloid implicated in outbreaks of human sicknesses. We detected CYN in different sources of water in Northeastern Brazil using molecular and immunological techniques. The highest concentrations of toxin occurred in the Jucazinho reservoir with the phytoplankton containing the potentially CYN-producing C. raciborskii and Sphaerospermopsis aphanizomenoides (previously known as Aphanizomenon aphanizomenoides). The polyketide synthase (PKS) and peptide synthetase (PS), which are directly related to the ability to produce CYN, were found in all the analyzed samples. The result of the present study emphasizes the need to improve monitoring of CYN in water bodies used for drinking and recreation, in order to avoid exposure of human populations to this toxin.

Aphanizomenon, Cyanobacteria, Cylindrospermopsis Raciborskii, CYN, Sphaerospermopsis Aphanizomenoides, Toxin

M. Bittencourt-Oliveira, V. Piccin-Santos, P. Kujbida and A. Moura, "Cylindrospermopsin in Water Supply Reservoirs in Brazil Determined by Immunochemical and Molecular Methods," Journal of Water Resource and Protection, Vol. 3 No. 6, 2011, pp. 349-355. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2011.36044.