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First Report of Microcystins and Anatoxin-a Co-occurrence in San Roque Reservoir (Córdoba, Argentina)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of microcystin-LR, microcystin-RR, microcystin-YR, and the neurotoxin anatoxin-a in water samples collected monthly during 1 year in San Roque reservoir (Córdoba, Argentina) to identify the environmental factors that could promote the presence of these cyanotoxins. The HPLC-UV and MS/MS analysis showed the presence of microcystin in most of the sampling times, even when Cyanobacteria were subdominant. Microcystin concentrations varied from not detectable levels to 119.0 μg L−1. Thus, they frequently surpassed the guidelines suggested by WHO for drinking water (1 μg L−1) and recreational exposure (20 μg L−1). To the extent of our knowledge, this is the first report of anatoxin-a in freshwaters in South America. Anatoxin-a concentrations varied from not detectable levels to 6.6 ng L−1, a thousand times below the provisional guideline adopted by New Zealand for drinking water. Microcystin showed significant correlation with Microcystis and Pseudoanabaena while anatoxin-a correlated with Oscillatoria and Anabaena counts. Linear discriminant analysis showed that higher pH levels and more variable chlorophyll-a concentrations were measured in San Roque reservoir when cyanotoxins were present. Lower inorganic nitrogen concentrations were observed in autumn, when the prevalence of Anabaena became significant in Cyanobacteria composition and highest anatoxin-a levels were measured. The observed dynamic of phytoplankton going together with the cyanotoxins occurrence could be explained by the hypothesis of cyanotoxins acting as allelopathic compounds. The microcystin levels measured plus the presence of anatoxin-a show the need of stronger management efforts to preserve human and wildlife health.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Técnica (FONCyT-PICT 1209 and 1225), Secretaría de Ciencia y Técnica (SECyT), and CONICET (National Research Council, Argentina).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas-CIBICI, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba—CONICET, Haya de la Torre esq. Medina Allende, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina

    Lucas Galanti & María Valeria Amé

  2. Instituto Nacional del Agua-Centro de la Región Semiárida, Ambrosio Olmos 1142, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina

    Marcia Ruiz, Ana Laura Ruibal & María Ines Rodriguez

  3. Facultad Ciencias Químicas-ICYTAC, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba—CONICET, Av. Juan Filloy s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina

    Daniel Alberto Wunderlin

  4. Facultad Ciencias Químicas, Dto. Bioquímica Clínica-CIBICI, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba- CONICET, Haya de la Torre esq. Medina Allende Ciudad Universitaria, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina

    María Valeria Amé

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  1. Marcia Ruiz
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  2. Lucas Galanti
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  3. Ana Laura Ruibal
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Correspondence to María Valeria Amé.

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Water quality parameters from San Roque Reservoir evaluated during the studied period. a Chlorophyll-a; b dissolved oxygen (DO); c pH; d phytoplankton; e temperature; f total inorganic nitrogen; g total inorganic phosphates; h transparency. Asterisks mean significant differences between monitoring stations. Different letters indicate mean significant differences between seasons (capital letter for station 1, lower case for station 2; p < 0.05). (DOCX 67 kb)

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Ruiz, M., Galanti, L., Ruibal, A.L. et al. First Report of Microcystins and Anatoxin-a Co-occurrence in San Roque Reservoir (Córdoba, Argentina). Water Air Soil Pollut 224, 1593 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1593-2

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