Toxicon. 2014 Aug 28;90C:265-268. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.08.065. [Epub ahead of print]

First report of a massive bloom of Alexandrium minutum (Dinophyceae) in middle North Atlantic: A coastal lagoon in S. Jorge Island, Azores.

Santos M1, Costa PR2, Porteiro FM3, Moita MT2.

• 1IPMA, I.P. - Portuguese Institute of Ocean and Atmosphere, Avenida de Brasília s/n, 1449-006 Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: mariana.santos@ipma.pt.
• 2IPMA, I.P. - Portuguese Institute of Ocean and Atmosphere, Avenida de Brasília s/n, 1449-006 Lisbon, Portugal.
• 3Regional Secretariat for Natural Resources, Regional Directorate of Marine Affairs - Rua Cônsul Dabney, Colónia Alemã, Apartado 140, 9901-014 Horta, Azores, Portugal.

Abstract

This is the first report of a bloom of the toxic marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum in the Azores Archipelago (Northeastern Atlantic Ocean). In September 2013, high cell concentrations (1.3 × 107 cells L-1) of this species were recorded in Santo Cristo coastal lagoon causing an orange-brown water discoloration, death of small pelagic fish and toxification of shellfish resources (Ruditapes decussatus). Levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning toxins in clams exceeded 30 times the regulatory limit, and were associated with the intoxication of four people.

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

Alexandrium minutum; Azores; Fish kills; Food poisoning; Northeastern Atlantic Ocean; Saxitoxin

PMID:  25175013