Goniodomins, an emerging toxin group in the North Sea

In June 2016 an oceanographic expedition was performed in the Eastern North Sea along the Danish Westcoast, entering Limfjorden (Jutland) and returning to Bremerhaven via the Kattegat and the Kiel Canal. Limfjorden is a major... [ view full abstract ]

In June 2016 an oceanographic expedition was performed in the Eastern North Sea along the Danish Westcoast, entering Limfjorden (Jutland) and returning to Bremerhaven via the Kattegat and the Kiel Canal. Limfjorden is a major Danish mussel production site and the aim of the Expedition was to investigate the endemic PSP and spirolide producing Alexandrium ostenfeldii population. Surprisingly A. ostenfeldii and its associated toxins were hardly present in Limfjorden, but the dinoflagellate community was dominated by Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax. At the same time high levels of goniodomin A were detected at most stations within Limfjorden and to a lesser extent along the Danish Westcoast and the western Baltic Sea. All isolates of A. pseudogonyaulax collected during the expedition are goniodomin A producers, whereas only 10 out of the 19 isolates additionally produce low percentages of goniodomin B. The proliferation of A. pseudogonyaulax in North Sea coastal waters may be a more general trend and should be monitored. Furthermore, studies of goniodomin accumulation in bivalves and toxicity assessments are needed to protect shellfish consumers’’ health in the future.