research is needed to determine the
mechanism of action and the toxin effects on tissues and cells of the main affected species. Finally, there is a need to
establish an educational plan to protect
the public and avoid the consumption
and commercialization of potentially
toxic marine invertebrates.
Acknowledgements
This work was developed within the
framework of a monitoring program
(Programa Nacional de Vigilancia y
Control de las Intoxicaciones por Floraciones Algales Nocivas) of the Ministry
of Health. Research funded by the CONICYT + FONDEF/Primer Concurso de
Investigación Tecnológica Temático en
Sistemas Pesquero-Acuícolas frente a
Florecimientos Algales Nocivos (FANs)
Idea del Fondo de Fomento al Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico, FONDEF/
CONICYT 2017, IT17F10002.
References
1. De Wit P et al 2014. Nat Commun 5:
3652-3652
2. Rogers-Bennett L et al 2012. Harmful
Algae News 46: 10-11
3. Pitcher GC et al 2019. Harmful Algae
81: 30-41
Authors
Gonzalo Álvarez, José Rengel, Francisco Álvarez, Iranzu Ganuza & Roberto Pino, Departamento de Acuicultura, Universidad Católica
del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
Fig. 2. A-B) Stranded specimens of the red sea urchin Loxechinus albus on the beach at Pabellón de Pica, Tarapacá Region; C) Specimens of the Humboldt squid Dosidicus gigas on the
beach at Bahía Inglesa, Atacama Region; D) Control of the Chilean army to avoid commercialization of stranded organisms; E-F) Squid Dosidicus gigas on the beach at Puerto Aldea,
Coquimbo Region.
The relationship between YTX and
mass mortality events of invertebrates
has been reported in other geographical areas around the world. In 2011,
a mortality event associated with the
presence of the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax spinifera and low levels of YTX (<0.1
mg kg-1) was reported in Sonoma County, California affecting different marine
invertebrates such as the red sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus),
the purple sea urchin (S. purpuratus),
the starfish (Pisaster ochraceous) and
the abalone (Haliotis rufescens) [1-2].
Recently, in 2017 Pitcher et al [3] reported a mass mortality of 250 tons of
the abalone (H. midae) in different aquaculture farms along the South African
HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 64 / 2020
coast associated with a bloom of Gonyaulax spinifera. During this episode,
the toxin profile in the digestive gland
was dominated by homo-YTX, 45-hydroxy-YTX, and a minor contribution
of YTX, with average concentrations
of 0.73; 0.21 and 0.09 mg kg-1, respectively. The gill tissues, with an average
concentration of 1.1 mg kg-1 (homoYTX), 0.33 mg kg-1 (45-hydroxy-YTX)
and 0.11 mg kg-1 (YTX), was the most
contaminated organ. It is worth noting
that the YTX concentrations found during these episodes were very similar
to those reported from Northern Chile.
These coincidences suggest that yessotoxins may have been the main cause of
marine invertebrate mortalities. More
Praxedes Muñoz, Sergio Rosales & Valentina
Hevia, Departamento de Biología Marina,
Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo
1281, Coquimbo, Chile
Michael Araya, Centro de Investigación en Algas y otros Recursos Biológicos (CIDTA), Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica
del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
Patricio A Díaz, Centro i~mar & CeBiB, Universidad de Los Lagos, Camino a Chinquihue,
Km 6, Puerto Montt, Chile
Andrea Rivera, Departamento de Nutrición y
Alimentos, División Políticas Públicas Saludables y Promoción, Subsecretaría de Salud
Pública, Ministerio de Salud, Chile
Juan Blanco, Centro de Investigacions
Mariñas, Xunta de Galicia, Pedras de Corón
s/n, Spain.
Email corresponding author:
gmalvarez@ucn.cl
7
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