Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) technology for field monitoring of Gambierdiscus toxins with passive samplers Ciguatera poisoning is a seafood intoxication classically associated with the consumption of tropical coral reef fish contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs), although some marine invertebrates such as bivalves, gastropods or echinoids are also potential vectors of ciguatera [1-3]. CTXs are polyether neurotoxins produced by dinoflagellates of the genera Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa, and are responsible for severe acute digestive, neurological, and cardiovascular symptoms in humans [4]. Ciguatera has major health and economic impacts on vulnerable island communities whose subsistence strongly relies on the sustainable exploitation of marine resources, such as in the Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) where high incidence rates have been consistently reported in the past two decades [5]. Most surveillance programmes currently rely on the survey of cell densities and species composition of Gambierdiscus populations, as well as on the evaluation of CTXs concentrations in marine products. However, such methods are time consuming and expensive, thus emphasizing the need for supplementary tools, based on the spatio-temporally integrated sampling of dissolved algal toxins directly in marine environments. The SPATT (solid phase adsorption toxin tracking) technology, first introduced in 2004 [6], uses porous synthetic resins capable of adsorbing dissolved toxins directly from the water column (Fig. 1). Numerous laboratory and field studies, testing different adsorbent substrates of which Diaion HP20 resin appears to be the most versatile substrate, have been carried out worldwide to assess the applicability of these passive monitoring devices to the detection of lipophilic and hydrophilic toxins produced by a variety of marine and freshwater microorganisms [7]. Regarding the monitoring of toxins associated with ciguatera, one laboratory study has demonstrated the efficacy of HP20 resin for the detection of dissolved CTXs and maitotoxins (MTXs) in Gambierdiscus cultures [8]. The efficacy of SPATT technology to detect Gambierdiscus toxins in the field in ciguateric biotopes was recently confirmed by the deployment of SPATT devices filled with 10 g of HP20 resin for 48 h in two French Polynesian sites: main village of Kaukura Island (Tuamotu archipelago) and Anaho Bay in Nuku Hiva Island (Marquesas archipelago), characterized by a moderate vs. high risk of ciguatera [9]. The presence of CTXs in SPATT devices was assessed using the neuroblastoma cell-based assay (CBA-N2a) and results showed that SPATT devices deployed in Anaho Bay were able to retain 1.30 0.41 ng P-CTX3C equiv. g-1 HP20 resin. Liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses confirmed that P-CTX3B and P-CTX3C were primarily retained on SPATT devices. These results are coherent with environmental observations that confirmed the presence of significant amounts of Gambierdiscus cells in Anaho Bay, most notably in the species G. polynesiensis known for its very high toxic potential, and with toxicological analyses that demonstrated the presence of CTXs in all marine products tested [2,3]. In contrast, no CTXs were detected in SPATT devices deployed in Kaukura Island. However, as with SPATT devices deployed in Anaho Bay, LC-MS/ MS analyses revealed the adsorption of a putative MTX analogue, known as MTX3, on SPATT devices deployed in Kaukura Island. Recent studies indicate that putative MTX3 is ubiquitous within Gambierdiscus genus [10], suggesting its potential use as a biomarker of the occurrence of Gambierdiscus cells in the natural environment. Since a very low density of Gambierdiscus cells was observed in Kaukura Island, the detection of putative MTX3 but not of CTXs on SPATT devices suggest either the presence of non-toxic Gambierdiscus Fig. 1. Example of a design of SPATT device assembly and field deployment. Left and middle: the SPATT device is made of two nylon mesh layers filled with a porous synthetic resin (Diaion HP20, polystyrene-divinylbenzene matrix, is the most used resin), and fixed between two PVC circular frames. Right: in the field, the SPATT device is inserted in plastic grids to prevent its damage and grazing by fish, and maintained in a vertical position in the water column using weights and floats. M. Roué (modified from [7] and [9]) 8 HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 60 / 2018 Harmful Algae News An IOC Newsletter on Toxic Algae and Algal Blooms No. 60 - July 2018 www.ioc-unesco.org/hab Marine eukaryote and HAB monitoring in Japan with next generation technology Sequencing technologies such as Illumina MiSeq have made it possible to obtain billions of sequence reads in a Frequency distribution (%) the surface data was used in this study. Surface seawater (0.5 L) was collected weekly with a plastic bucket during the same period. For MPS-based monitoring based on amplicon-seq of 18S-rRNA gene (V79 region), PCR amplification and 454 pyrosequencing were performed accor Inland Sea, 2-17-5 Maruishi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-045, Japan Hiroshi Shimada, Central Fisheries Research Institute of Hokkaido Research Organization, Hamanaka-cho 238, Yoichi, Hokkaido 0468555, Japan Seiji Katakura, City of Mombetsu, Kaiyo-koryukan, Kaiyo-koen, Mombetsu, Hokkaido 094-0031, Jap Quantifying dinoflagellate cysts in bottom sediments: a response to Anderson 2018 Problems associated with quantifying dinoflagellate cysts in bottom sediments featured prominently in Don Anderson s personal retrospective view of his contribution to the early days of HAB cyst research published rece viously, sample sites should be chosen to avoid such areas if possible. Clearly, there is room for questions or criticism when this dynamic system is modelled from the assumption that bottom sediments, for example in Anderson s work in The Gulf of Maine, are in a static stable condition whereby a sa Contribution of marine invertebrates to Ciguatera poisoning : the case study of French Polynesia Reported as early as the 15th century by explorers, ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is the most prominent non-bacterial seafood poisoning worldwide. Widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, CFP res au développement du phytoplancton ciguatérigène en Polynésie française: CARISTO-Pf n7937/MSR/REC of 4th of December 2015 and Arrêté nHC/491/ DIE/BPT of 30th March 2016). Figure 2. Comparison of Pacific ciguatoxins (P-CTXs) profiles in A) in vitro cultures of Gambierdiscus polynesiensis (TB-92 [14]) Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) technology for field monitoring of Gambierdiscus toxins with passive samplers Ciguatera poisoning is a seafood intoxication classically associated with the consumption of tropical coral reef fish contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs), although some marine Fig. 2. Summary of the results demonstrating that SPATT passive sampling could advantageously contribute to the reinforcement of ciguateric risk assessment and management programmes as a supplementary tool. or of very low densities of toxic Gambierdiscus cells. However, CTXs were detected in numero New limits of Ostreopsis distribution in the Bay of Biscay: a first report of Ostreopsis in Santander Bay, Cantabria (Northern Spain) Fig. 1. Location of sampling sites The genus Ostreopsis encompasses benthic dinoflagellates that represent one of the main microalgal threats for beach tourism in w Bloom of Ostreopsis cf. siamensis in Lisbon Bay Fig. 1. Sampling sites on Lisbon Bay Reports of benthic HAB events have increased during the last decade in temperate regions. These have been associated with proliferations of benthic toxic dinoflagellates, in particular species of Ostreopsis. The M Table1 1- List - List the macroalgaecommunity communityspecies species Table ofof the macroalgae ITSA and ITSB primers [6]. Phylogenetic analysis (not Asparagopsis armata Corallina sp. shown) revealed that all the Caulacanthus ustulatus Cystoseira sp. studied sequences grouped Ceramiacea Derbesia s A possible link between the breakdown of a fertilizer tank and a toxic Pseudonitzschia bloom fishery, leaving toxic blooms undetected in other areas. By the time of the bloom, the diatom community primarily consisted of P. seriata (Fig. 3). Identification of P. seriata as the potential culprit diat Fig. 3. Pseudo-nitzschia seriata TEM micrograph of the poroid structure arranged within the striae consisting of two outer rows of larger poroids and one or two inner rows of smaller poroids. induce DA production in P. australis [7], and the most potent DA-inducing N form has been shown to be urea. Golden alga Prymnesium parvum Carter bloom off Azhikode, southwest India In September 2009, during the southwest monsoon season, a quasi-monospecific bloom of Prymnesium parvum was collected off Azhikode (10o 11 02 N; 76o 09 22 E), on the southwest coast of India (Fig. 1). A conspicuous pale browni Regional Workshop on Monitoring and Management Strategies for Benthic HABs if possible, establish tools for standardized procedures. The exercise is open to the entire international community. The goal of achieving improved assessments of the risks associated with BHABs will help reduce the health, Workshop on morpho-molecular methods for the study of dinoflagellate cysts A workshop on techniques for the morphological and molecular identification of cysts from toxic HAB species, led by Drs Kenneth Neil Mertens, Kirsty Smith, Lesley Rhodes and Lincoln MacKenzie, was held recently at the Cawthro Cawthron Summer Scholar Explores Bloom-Forming Freshwater Cyano bacteria Globally, cyanobacteria blooms in freshwater environments are causing water quality problems and health risks with increasing frequency. New Zealand is no stranger to this, suffering from blooms of toxin-producing cyanobacteria Canadian HAB Scientists Hold Workshop to Establish National Priorities and Develop Research Network A National Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) workshop was organized and chaired by Dr. Ian Perry at the Institute of Ocean Sciences (IOS), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Sidney, British Columbia, July 11- Joint FAO, IAEA, IOC and WHO Technical Meeting for the development of an InterAgency Global Ciguatera Strategy Harmful Algae News has previously brought information on an initiative between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Environment Laboratories in Monaco jointly with the Oceanographi 12th Advanced Phytoplankton Course - APC 12 Identification, Taxonomy, Systematics Roscoff Biological Station (France) - 19th May to 8th June 2019 APC12 is organized by the Station Biologique de Roscoff together with the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn and the IOC Science and Communication Centre on H ICHA 2018 News: 669 abstracts evaluated ! 250 orals + 45 ignite talks selected and participants notified ICHA 2018 News: 669 abstracts evaluated ! 9 plenaries confirmed 250 orals + 45 ignite talks selected and participants notified 3 satellite sessions 9 plenaries confirmed 3 satellite sessions