Application of passive (SPATT) and active sampling methods in the profiling and monitoring of marine biotoxins

Moira McCarthy; Frank N A M van Pelt; Vaishali Bane; John O'Halloran; Ambrose Furey

doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.07.005

Application of passive (SPATT) and active sampling methods in the profiling and monitoring of marine biotoxins

Toxicon. 2014 Oct:89:77-86. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.07.005. Epub 2014 Jul 24.

Authors

Moira McCarthy¹, Frank N A M van Pelt², Vaishali Bane³, John O'Halloran⁴, Ambrose Furey⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork The Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland; Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Lee Road, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: mc_moira@yahoo.co.uk.
² Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Western Road, Cork, Ireland; Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Lee Road, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: f.vanpelt@ucc.ie.
³ Mass Spectrometry Research Centre (MSRC) Incorporating the PROTEOBIO and Team Elucidate Research Groups, Department of Chemistry, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: vaishali.p.bane@mycit.ie.
⁴ School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork The Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland; Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Lee Road, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: j.ohalloran@ucc.ie.
⁵ Mass Spectrometry Research Centre (MSRC) Incorporating the PROTEOBIO and Team Elucidate Research Groups, Department of Chemistry, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: Ambrose.Furey@cit.ie.

PMID: 25064272
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.07.005

Abstract

Solid phase adsorbent and toxin tracking (SPATT) enables temporally and spatially integrated monitoring of biotoxins in aquatic environments. Monitoring using two adsorbent resins was performed over a four-month period at Lough Hyne Marine Reserve, Ireland. A range of Diarhettic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins were detected from SPATT extracts throughout the study period. The majority of biotoxins were detected in the top 20-30 m of the water column and a spike in toxin accumulation was measured during August 2010. Phytoplankton analysis confirmed the presence of toxin-producing species Dinophysis acuta and Dinophysis acuminata during the bloom. SPATT has the potential to provide useful information on phycotoxin distribution in the water column; enabling evidence-based decisions regarding appropriate depths for obtaining phytoplankton and shellfish samples in marine biotoxin monitoring programmes. Active sampling was performed continuously over 7-days and high quantities of toxins were successfully accumulated in the HP-20 resin, okadaic acid (∼13 mg), dinophysis toxin-2 (∼29 mg), pectenotoxin-2 (∼20 mg) and pectenotoxin-2-seco acid (∼6 mg) proving this an effective method for accumulating DSP toxins from the marine environment. The method has potential application as a tool for assessing toxin profiles at proposed shellfish harvesting sites.

Keywords: Biotoxins; DSP; HABs; LC-MS; SPATT; Shellfish.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Validation Study

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Environmental Monitoring / methods*
Ireland
Marine Toxins / analysis*
Seawater / chemistry*
Shellfish

Substances

Marine Toxins