cyanoginosin-lr and Animal-Diseases

Cyanobacterial blooms occur worldwide and present an increasing problem due to eutrophication of lakes. Microcystins, especially microcystin-LR, are microcyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxins and are the most common and potent toxins associated with cyanobacteria. Microcystin is rapidly taken up by hepatocytes through carrier-mediated transport. Once in the hepatocyte, microcystin causes structural damage to the cell indirectly by inhibiting protein phosphorylases 1 and 2A, which are needed for regulation of structural proteins of the cell. Acute liver hemorrhage and death occur with high doses of microcystin-LR, which is also a potent tumor promoter in laboratory rats. The significance of microcystin to human health has been debated; however, poisoning in humans has occurred due to contaminated dialysis water. Microcystin in contaminated drinking water may be the cause of elevated rates of primary liver cancer in some areas of China. Problems with hepatotoxic cyanobacteria have been most seen in livestock. Treatment of confirmed microcystin toxicosis in livestock is likely to be unrewarding, so prevention is important. Wild mammals, birds, fish, insects, and microinvertebrates may also be affected by microcystin.

Topics: Animal Diseases; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Animals, Wild; Biotransformation; China; Cyanobacteria; Diagnosis, Differential; Enzyme Inhibitors; Eutrophication; Humans; Kinetics; Liver; Liver Neoplasms; Marine Toxins; Microcystins; Peptides, Cyclic; Public Health; Water Supply

Black band disease (BBD) of corals is a complex pathogenic polymicrobial mat community that lyses coral tissue as it migrates over an infected colony. Two known toxins are produced by BBD microorganisms - sulfide, produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria, and microcystin, produced by cyanobacteria. Experiments were carried out to determine the effects of exposing healthy coral fragments to variable concentrations of purified microcystin, sulfide at a concentration known to exist in BBD, and a combination of the two. Healthy fragments of the coral Montastraea annularis were placed into experimental chambers with known toxin/s for 18-22.5 h. Fine structural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that toxin exposure resulted in thinning or removal of the coral epidermal layer coupled with degradation of the gastrodermis. These effects were exacerbated when both toxins were used in combination. Exposure to sulfide and the highest concentration of microcystin caused zooxanthellae to dissociate from the coral tissue and to form clusters on the coral surface. Examination of coral fragments infected with BBD was carried out for comparison. It was determined that the effects of exposure to sulfide and microcystin on coral fine structure were consistent, both quantitatively and qualitatively, with the effects of artificially induced and naturally occurring BBD on M. annularis.

Topics: Animal Diseases; Animals; Anthozoa; Bacterial Infections; Bacterial Toxins; Disease Models, Animal; Epidermis; Marine Toxins; Microcystins; Sulfides