New Report of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in El Pañe Reservoir: A Threat for Water Quality in High-Andean Sources from PERU

Cyanobacteria are cosmopolitan organisms; nonetheless, climate change and eutrophication are increasing the occurrence of cyanobacteria blooms (cyanoblooms), thereby raising the risk of cyanotoxins in water sources used for drinking, agriculture, and livestock. This study aimed to determine the pres...

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Main Authors: Victor Hugo Rodriguez Uro, Joana Azevedo, Mário Jorge Araújo, Raquel Silva, Jürgen Bedoya, Betty Paredes, Cesar Ranilla, Vitor Vasconcelos, Alexandre Campos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-08-01
Series:Toxins
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/16/9/378
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author Victor Hugo Rodriguez Uro
Joana Azevedo
Mário Jorge Araújo
Raquel Silva
Jürgen Bedoya
Betty Paredes
Cesar Ranilla
Vitor Vasconcelos
Alexandre Campos
author_facet Victor Hugo Rodriguez Uro
Joana Azevedo
Mário Jorge Araújo
Raquel Silva
Jürgen Bedoya
Betty Paredes
Cesar Ranilla
Vitor Vasconcelos
Alexandre Campos
author_sort Victor Hugo Rodriguez Uro
collection DOAJ
description Cyanobacteria are cosmopolitan organisms; nonetheless, climate change and eutrophication are increasing the occurrence of cyanobacteria blooms (cyanoblooms), thereby raising the risk of cyanotoxins in water sources used for drinking, agriculture, and livestock. This study aimed to determine the presence of cyanobacteria, including toxigenic cyanobacteria and the occurrence of cyanotoxins in the El Pañe reservoir located in the high-Andean region, Arequipa, Peru, to support water quality management. The study included morphological observation of cyanobacteria, molecular determination of cyanobacteria (16S rRNA analysis), and analysis of cyanotoxins encoding genes (<i>mcyA</i> for microcystins, <i>cyrJ</i> for cylindrospermopsins, <i>sxtl</i> for saxitoxins, and <i>AnaC</i> for anatoxins). In parallel, chemical analysis using Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed to detect the presence of cyanotoxins (microcystins, cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxin, and anatoxin, among others) and quantification of Microcystin-LR. Morphological data show the presence of <i>Dolichospermum</i> sp., which was confirmed by molecular analysis. <i>Microcystis</i> sp. was also detected through 16S rRNA analysis and the presence of <i>mcyA</i> gene related to microcystin production was found in both cyanobacteria. Furthermore, microcystin-LR and demethylated microcystin-LR were identified by chemical analysis. The highest concentrations of microcystin-LR were 40.60 and 25.18 µg/L, in May and November 2022, respectively. Microcystins were detected in cyanobacteria biomass. In contrast, toxins in water (dissolved) were not detected. Microcystin concentrations exceeded many times the values established in Peruvian regulation and the World Health Organization (WHO) in water intended for human consumption (1 µg/L). This first comprehensive report integrates morphological, molecular, and chemical data and confirms the presence of two toxigenic cyanobacteria and the presence of microcystins in El Pañe reservoir. This work points out the need to implement continuous monitoring of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in the reservoir and effective water management measures to protect the human population from exposure to these contaminants.
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spelling doaj-art-e0c78dda6c224cbb85bb6f4a0bdeec7e2025-08-20T01:55:53ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512024-08-0116937810.3390/toxins16090378New Report of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in El Pañe Reservoir: A Threat for Water Quality in High-Andean Sources from PERUVictor Hugo Rodriguez Uro0Joana Azevedo1Mário Jorge Araújo2Raquel Silva3Jürgen Bedoya4Betty Paredes5Cesar Ranilla6Vitor Vasconcelos7Alexandre Campos8Científica Peruana SRL., Calle Tupac Amaru 511, Mariano Melgar, Arequipa 04006, PeruInterdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR-LA), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Porto, PortugalInterdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR-LA), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Porto, PortugalInterdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR-LA), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Porto, PortugalCientífica Peruana SRL., Calle Tupac Amaru 511, Mariano Melgar, Arequipa 04006, PeruDepartamento Académico de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Formales, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Av. Independencia, s/n, Arequipa 04001, PeruDepartamento Académico de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Av. Daniel Alcides Carrión, Arequipa 04002, PeruInterdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR-LA), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Porto, PortugalInterdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR-LA), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Porto, PortugalCyanobacteria are cosmopolitan organisms; nonetheless, climate change and eutrophication are increasing the occurrence of cyanobacteria blooms (cyanoblooms), thereby raising the risk of cyanotoxins in water sources used for drinking, agriculture, and livestock. This study aimed to determine the presence of cyanobacteria, including toxigenic cyanobacteria and the occurrence of cyanotoxins in the El Pañe reservoir located in the high-Andean region, Arequipa, Peru, to support water quality management. The study included morphological observation of cyanobacteria, molecular determination of cyanobacteria (16S rRNA analysis), and analysis of cyanotoxins encoding genes (<i>mcyA</i> for microcystins, <i>cyrJ</i> for cylindrospermopsins, <i>sxtl</i> for saxitoxins, and <i>AnaC</i> for anatoxins). In parallel, chemical analysis using Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed to detect the presence of cyanotoxins (microcystins, cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxin, and anatoxin, among others) and quantification of Microcystin-LR. Morphological data show the presence of <i>Dolichospermum</i> sp., which was confirmed by molecular analysis. <i>Microcystis</i> sp. was also detected through 16S rRNA analysis and the presence of <i>mcyA</i> gene related to microcystin production was found in both cyanobacteria. Furthermore, microcystin-LR and demethylated microcystin-LR were identified by chemical analysis. The highest concentrations of microcystin-LR were 40.60 and 25.18 µg/L, in May and November 2022, respectively. Microcystins were detected in cyanobacteria biomass. In contrast, toxins in water (dissolved) were not detected. Microcystin concentrations exceeded many times the values established in Peruvian regulation and the World Health Organization (WHO) in water intended for human consumption (1 µg/L). This first comprehensive report integrates morphological, molecular, and chemical data and confirms the presence of two toxigenic cyanobacteria and the presence of microcystins in El Pañe reservoir. This work points out the need to implement continuous monitoring of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in the reservoir and effective water management measures to protect the human population from exposure to these contaminants.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/16/9/378cyanobacteriacyanotoxinsEl Pañe high-Andean reservoirPCRLC-MS/MS
spellingShingle Victor Hugo Rodriguez Uro
Joana Azevedo
Mário Jorge Araújo
Raquel Silva
Jürgen Bedoya
Betty Paredes
Cesar Ranilla
Vitor Vasconcelos
Alexandre Campos
New Report of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in El Pañe Reservoir: A Threat for Water Quality in High-Andean Sources from PERU
Toxins
cyanobacteria
cyanotoxins
El Pañe high-Andean reservoir
PCR
LC-MS/MS
title New Report of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in El Pañe Reservoir: A Threat for Water Quality in High-Andean Sources from PERU
title_full New Report of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in El Pañe Reservoir: A Threat for Water Quality in High-Andean Sources from PERU
title_fullStr New Report of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in El Pañe Reservoir: A Threat for Water Quality in High-Andean Sources from PERU
title_full_unstemmed New Report of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in El Pañe Reservoir: A Threat for Water Quality in High-Andean Sources from PERU
title_short New Report of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in El Pañe Reservoir: A Threat for Water Quality in High-Andean Sources from PERU
title_sort new report of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in el pane reservoir a threat for water quality in high andean sources from peru
topic cyanobacteria
cyanotoxins
El Pañe high-Andean reservoir
PCR
LC-MS/MS
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/16/9/378
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