Determination of palytoxins in samples from Ostreopsis outbreaks in Llavaneres (NW Mediterranean coast)

Abstract

Dinoflagellates of the genus Ostreopsis have been related to harmful episodes in many Mediterranean coastal areas since 1998. In August 2004 one important event occurred in Llavaneres beach (Catalan coast, Spain) affecting 74 people with rhinitis and breathing problems. Since then, many Mediterranean heavy blooms of Ostreopsis have coincided with respiratory problems in people staying near the beach, suggesting a possible link between them. To test this hypothesis, samples of seawater, macroalgae, benthic marine invertebrates and aerosols were collected from this location during 2009 and 2010 in the framework of the EBITOX project to determination of palytoxin. Different extraction procedures have been used depending of the sample type. The extracts were analysed by haemolytic assay and LC–FLD and the presence of palytoxin was confirmed by LC-MS. Strains isolated from Llavaneres were cultured in the laboratory and analysed by the same chemical and biological methods. Toxins from field samples and cultures were compared. Presence of palytoxin in macroalgae and cultures was confirmed but it has not yet been detected in aerosol filters or dissolved in seawater with the methods used. Therefore, the hypothesis remains unresolved