ALGAL BLOOMS AND TOXINS

Algal blooms
• Algal blooms can be defined as the rapid increase or accumulation of algae basically phytoplanktons
which can be recognized by the discoloration in the water and seen floating on the water bodies (sea,
oceans, rivers or lakes)
• Bloom of diatoms are seen often in springs which decrease later in the year
• Sustained algal bloom results in eutrophication a process which occur in rivers, shallow lakes and
other water bodies when the addition of extra nutrients (fertilizers) cause heavy growth of algae
• It is mainly caused due to excess of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen in the water and also
increasing temperature.
Causal organisms:
 Cyanophyceae – Microcystis and Anabaena; M. aeruginosa, M.scripta, M. viridia, A.flos-aquae, A.
catenula ete. ; others – Anabaenopsis, Coelosphaerium, Gloeotrichia, Lyngbya, Nostoc, Oscillatoria,
Spirulina, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae least frequently bloom forming
 Bacillariophyceae – Fragilaria, Tabellaria
 Chlorophyceae – Cosmarium, Mougeotia, Oedogonium, Pandorina, Volvox, Zygnema, Scenedesmus
 Chrysophycea – Synura
 Dinoflagellates – Gymnodinium
Reason for blooms formation
 Light
 Temperature
 Inorganic nutrients
 Water movements / turbidity
 Presence of Vitamin B12 (cobalamine) in water is crucial for
formation of blooms of dinoflagellates
 Formation of gas vacuoles has definite correlation with formation
of blooms

Utility of blooms
 Source of nitrogen – fertility
 Source of food for several birds and some aquatic animals
Disadvantages of water blooms
 Death of fishes and aquatic animals – depletion of oxygen in surrounding water
 Unpleasant taste to water – unsuitable for drinking
 Emit foul smell – air unsuitable for perfect breathing
 Animal poisoning
 Toxins of Anabaena – Anatoxins – acute toxin – alkaloids – neurological symptoms
minutes after ingestion; peptides found in anatoxins produce liver necrosis
 Water – unsuitable for drinking – gasteroenteritis
 Shellfish poisoning in humans, fishes and sea birds
 Losses in the Tourism Industry
 High Water Utility Bill for Domestic Consumers
 Algae Affect the Food Chain
 Filter clogging
 Slimy formation of water
 Corrosion of pipes, reservoir wall etc
CONTROL OF BLOOMS
 Mechanical means – restricted in large aquatic habitats – seas and
oceans
 Use of alginates – Copper Sulphate, Chlorine, Pot. Permanganate,
Sod. Chlorate
 Physical methods – carbon black; light cutting method,
destruction of gas vacuoles, artificial circulation of water
 Biological methods – specific viruses – cyanophages; bacteria;
fungi
 Algistat antibiotics- bacitracin, chlormycetin, neomycin,
terramycin etc.
ALGAL TOXINS
 Algal toxins are organic molecules produced by a variety of algal species
from fresh, brackish and marine waters.

 The occurrence of harmful toxic algal incidents has increased in many

parts of the World. Many bloom forming species of algae are capable of
producing biologically active secondary metabolites which are highly toxic to
human health and other animals.

 Members of freshwater and marine algae release toxins (Poisonous

substances of biological origin) and when ingested by human beings and
animals cause detrimental or event lethal effects. These algae are called toxic
algae and the toxic substance they release is called algal toxins
Toxic Algal Groups
1. Toxic cyanophytes – Three confirmed blue green algae produce toxins associated with animal poisoning.
Microcystis aeruginosa, Anabaena flos-aquae and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Anatoxins – are toxins produced by
Anabaena and are of three major types alkaloids, peptides and pteridines. They produce neurological symptoms
and may even cause liver necrosis within minutes of ingestion. Toxins from marine species of Lynbya are
responsible for dermatitis in swimmers and active toxins in this cyanophyte is debromoaplysiatoxin.
2. Toxic Prymnesiophytes – Unicellular flagellates with two equal smooth flagella; Prymnesium parvum produce
toxins which affect gill-breathing organisms and cause mass mortality in fishes. A mixture of proteophospholipids
are toxic components in this alga.
3. Toxic Dinoflagellates – Dinoflagellates produce toxin that are major causal agents of neurotoxic shellfish
poisoning (NSP) or paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in fish, sea birds and even humans. They are responsible
for formation of red tides. Saxitoxin is found in Gonyaulax catenella. Protogonyaulax catenella and P. tamarensis
produce PSP. Ptychodiscus brevis is neurotoxic shell fish poisoning dinoflagellate.
4. Toxic seaweeds – Seaweeds are members belonging to Chlorophyceae, Phaeophyceae and Rhodophyceae and toxic
compounds include compounds like acetylenes, terpenoids, haloterpenoids, halomethanes, polyphenols and
alkaloids. Caulerpa a green alga and Dictyota a brown alga produces terpenoids; several brown alga produce
phenolic compounds such as phloroglucinol; Hizikia is a potentially toxic brown alga contain arsenic; a
carcinogenic compound (bromoform) and toxic halogenated acetates, acrylates and ketones is produced by
Asparagopsis taxiformis, a red alga and it is used as a delicacy in Hawai; Liagora farinosa and Laurencia obtusa
are red alga known to produce acetylenic echthyotoxic lipid and brominated compounds.
Algae toxic to humans and animals
 All algae are not toxic to humans. Deaths of human beings are due to poisoning resulting from
consumption of such fishes, which feed on dinoflagellates. Several symptoms like burning of
eyes, burning of throat, irritation of respiratory tract and gastro intestinal disorders are seen in
humans ingesting algae such as Gymnodinium brevis, Lynbya majuscula, Anabaena circularis,
Oscillatoria intestenii and several species of Microcystis and Aphanizomenon. Lyngbya
majuscula causes dermatitis and some other skin disorders.

 Anabaena flos-aquae is known to cause deaths in cats, dogs, muskrats, fox squirrels, pheasants
(long tailed birds of genus Phasianus), diving birds of genus Fulica, ducks and swimming birds
(Coots). Microcystis toxica is poisonous causing death in cattle, sheep and other animals each
year globally. Toxins in Anabaena resulted in death of ducks feeding on this alga.
Aphanizomenon blooms proved poisonous to perch (spiny-finned fish of genus Perca) and
crappies (sunfish).
Groups of toxins
Algal toxins are divided into following three groups on the basis of time taken by them to show
their effects:

1. VFDF: Very Fast Death Factor toxins which act within 10 minutes; found in Anabaena flos-
aquae and A. lemmermannii
2. FDF: Fast Death Factor toxins which act between 10 minutes and 2 hours; found in Microcystis
aeruginosa
3. SDF: Slow Death Factor toxins which either are not fatal and cause only some physical problems
or cause death between 4 to 48 hours of ingestion; majority of algal toxins fall under this
category
General symptoms of Toxic algae
The generalized symptoms caused by algal feeding are

• Weakness
• Loss in weight
• Internal burning
• Peeling of animal skin
• Liver enlargement
• Failure of blood clotting
• Congestion within spleen All the above symptoms together affect nerves
and muscles in ingesting animals and may result in abortion and even death
of animals.
 Different groups of toxins based on the effect
 Neurotoxins: Neurotoxins are produced by different genera of Cyanobacteria including Anabaena sp, Aphanizomenon
sp, Microcystis sp, Planktothrix sp, Raphidopsis sp, Cylindrospermium sp, Phormidium sp, and Oscillatoria sp.
Neurotoxins of Oscillatoria sp. and Anabaena sp. have been responsible for animal poisoning. Neurotoxins affects
nervous system of vertebrates including rapid paralysis of the peripheral skeletal and respiratory muscles. Anatoxin-A
inhibits transmission at the neuromuscular junction by molecular mimicry of the neurotransmitter, Acetylcholine..
 Hepatotoxins: The Nodularin is most commonly produced from the filamentous, planktonic, Cyanobacterium,
Nodularia spumigena. Nodularin is a potent hepatotoxin for humans and other animal. The toxic effects of nodularin are
primarily associated with the hepatic cells due to active transport of the toxin to liver via the bile acid, multi specific
organic anion transporters.

 Saxitoxins: Saxitoxins are produced by different fresh water algae like Anabaena circinalis, Aphanizomenon.,
Aphanizomenon gracilie., Lyngbea wolleri are responsible for shell fish poisoning. Blooms of these toxic species have
led to mass kills of fish, native mammals and livestock as well as the contamination of fresh water resources. Symptoms
are seen within 30 min of ingestion and invariably begin with a tingling or burning of lips, tongue and throat increase to
total numbness of face. The saxitoxin causes several health problems in humans include perspiration, vomiting,
diarrhea. In case of acute poisoning numbness may be spread to neck and extremities and progress to muscular
weakness, loss of motor coordination, and finally leads to paralysis.

 Lipopolysacchrides (LPS): Lipopolysaccharides are known as irritant toxins and are generally found in the outer
membrane of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, including Cyanobacteria, where they form complexes with
proteins and phospholipids. It is generally the fatty acid component of the LPS molecule that elicits an irritant allergic
response in humans and mammals.
 Cylindrospermopsin: Cylindrospermopsin is a alkaloid produced by eight fresh water Cyanobacterial members
includes Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, Aphanizomenon ovalisporum, Aphanizomenon flos- aquae Anabaena
bergi, Anabaena lapponica, Lyngbya wollei, Rhaphidiopsis carvata, Umezakia natans. Out of these eight members
Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii presents a major problem for eater management on globally. It causes
hepatoenteritis and also effects domestic animals.

 Anatoxins (ATXs): The cyanobacterial neurotoxins are namely Anatoxin-a (ATX-a) and Anatoxin-a(s) ATX-a(S).
Anatoxin-a is one of the neurotoxic alkaloids produced from cyanobacteria include Anabaena,
Planktothrix,(Oscillatoria), Aphanizomenon, Cylindrospermum, Microcystis spp. Anatoxin-a exposure results in a
lack of oxygen to the brain, subsequent convulsions and death by suffocation.

 Microcystins: Microcystins produced by Microcystis aeruginosa, Microcystis viridis, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae,

Oscillatoria haplosporium and Anabaena species. Microcystins are associated with Hepato toxicity. It results in
local liver tissue damage, organ failure and haemorrhagic shock.

 Contact dermatitis: Allergic dermal reactions of varying severity have been reported from a number of fresh
water cyanobacterial genera Anabaena sp., Aphanizomenon sp., Nodularia sp., Oscillatoria sp., Gleotrichia sp.,
after recreational exposure. Cyanobacterial pigment, Cyanophycin has been shown to be responsible in some cases.
Ocular and nasal irritation was observed in swimmers exposed to Oscillatoriaceae