Toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in Finnish fresh and coastal waters

摘要

A survey of the occurrence of toxic blooms of cyanobacteria in Finnish fresh and coastal waters was made during 1985 and 1986. Toxicity of the freeze-dried water bloom samples was tested by mouse-bioassay (i.p.). Forty-four per cent (83/188) of the bloom samples were found to be lethally toxic. Hepatotoxic blooms (54) were almost twice as common as neurotoxic ones (29).Anabaenawas the most frequently found genus in toxic and non-toxic blooms and it was present in all neurotoxic samples. Statistical associations were found between hepatotoxicity and incidence ofMicrocystis aeruginosa, M. viridis, M. wesenbergii, Anabaena flos-aquaeandAnabaena spiroides. Neurotoxicity was statistically associated withAnabaena lemmermannii, Anabaena flos-aquaeandGomphosphaeria naegeliana. Isolation of strains of cyanobacteria confirmed the occurrence of hepatotoxic and neurotoxic strains ofAnabaena, as well as hepatotoxic strains ofMicrocystisandOscillatoriaspecies.