First report of the production of spirolides by Alexandrium peruvianum (Dinophyceae) from the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Four strains of Alexandrium peruvianum obtained from resting cysts in the western Mediterranean in 2002 and 2004 were analyzed for the presence of toxins. No PSP toxins were detected by LC-FD after postcolumn derivatization. Nevertheless, spirolides were detected by LC-MS in the four strains. The major components were 13-desmethyl spirolide C (m/z 692,5) with 90% of the total toxin content, followed by spirolide B (m/z 694,5) (6%) and small quantities of spirolide D (m/z 708,5) (2,7%) and 13-desmethyl spirolide D (m/z 694,5) (2%). Also traces of spirolide C (m/z 706,5) were found. This is the first report of the production of spirolides by this species. Given the great morphological similarity between A. peruvianum and A. ostenfeldii, in which the main difference is the shape of the sulcal anterior plate, triangular in A. peruvianum and rectangular with a left extension in A. ostenfeldii, the presence of these peculiar toxins in both species could be an indication of a possible synonymy