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The first detection of potentially toxic Microcystis strains in two Middle Atlas Mountains natural lakes (Morocco)

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Abstract

Aguelmam Azizgza (LAZ) and Dayet Afourgah (DAF) are two Moroccan natural lakes located in a humid hydrographic basin of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Both are considered important reservoirs of plant and animal biodiversity. In addition, they are extensively used for recreational and fishing activities and as a water source for irrigation of agricultural crops. Recurrent cyanobacteria scum episodes in the two water bodies have been reported, Microcystis being the main genus in the scums. Here, we report on the toxic potential of three Microcystis aeruginosa strains isolated from those lakes: Mic LAZ and Mic B7 from LAZ and Mic DAF isolated from DAF. The toxic potential was checked by their microcystin (MC) content and the presence of mcy genes involved in MC synthesis. The identification and quantification of MC variants were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography-photo-diode array. The detection of mcy genes was achieved by whole-cell multiplex PCR that allowed the simultaneous amplification of DNA sequences corresponding to specific mcy regions. MC content of cultured cells, as MC-LR equivalents per gram cell biomass, was slightly higher in Mic LAZ (ca. 860) than in Mic B7 (ca. 700) and Mic DAF (ca. 690). Four MC variants were identified in the three isolates: MC-WR, MC-RR, MC-DM-WR, and MC-YR. The presence of toxic Microcystis strains in the two studied lakes may be regarded as an environmental and health hazard, especially during periods of bloom proliferation. It would be recommended the use of two complementary techniques, as those utilized herein (HPLC and mcy detection) to alert on highly probable toxicity of such lakes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Moroccan government and the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation (Bilateral Spain-Morocco Project A/011422/07 granted to FF Del Campo and B. Oudra). We acknowledge the Excellence Grant No. 03-008/2004 accorded to Douma Mountasser by the National Center of Scientific and Technical Research from the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education, Staff Training, and Scientific Research. The authors would like to thank Dr. Lee Robertson for his help in English language and critical reading of the manuscript. The useful comments of anonymous reviewers are also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia Marrakech, University Cadi Ayyad, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakesh, Morocco

    Mountasser Douma, Mohammed Loudiki & Brahim Oudra

  2. Departamento de Biología, Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Youness Ouahid & Francisca F. del Campo

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  1. Mountasser Douma
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  2. Youness Ouahid
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  3. Mohammed Loudiki
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  4. Francisca F. del Campo
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  5. Brahim Oudra
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Correspondence to Brahim Oudra.

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Francisca F. del Campo and Brahim Oudra equally contributed to the study.

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Douma, M., Ouahid, Y., Loudiki, M. et al. The first detection of potentially toxic Microcystis strains in two Middle Atlas Mountains natural lakes (Morocco). Environ Monit Assess 189, 39 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5753-x

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