TOXIC ALGAE - USA: (FLORIDA) WATER
**********************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: Thu 19 May 2016
Source: ABC 7 [edited]
<http://www.abc-7.com/story/32019210/toxic-bacteria-found-in-lake-o-algae-bloom>
33 square miles of blue-green algae are covering the southern end of
Lake Okeechobee [Florida]. It's the perfect place for the algae to
grow, according to John Campbell with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Campbell said still water, warm temperatures and water fueled with
certain nutrients are a mixture that can create blue-green algae.
Tests were run on the algae and results are in: traces of toxic
bacteria called microcystin were found living inside the algae. "It
definitely caught us off guard 'cause we come here every year to
fish," said a Lake Okeechobee visitor. But this year, his hook is
turning up empty.
"When we 1st got here, we were very concerned because the water looked
really nasty," said [another visitor]. Instead of fishing in Lake
Okeechobee, the fishermen are going out a little bit further to the
Everglades where the algae isn't seen. "Obviously, if the fish is
consuming that and then we consume it ... obviously, we could consume
the same toxins," said [the 1st visitor].
So what does this mean for people in Southwest Florida?
"Water that is in motion down the Caloosahatchee River by far should
reduce the probability of a large-scale alga bloom," said Campbell.
But small bundles of blue-green algae may find its way into areas that
are still along the Caloosahatchee.
Many people enjoying the water just wish to see things clear up. "I
hope they can correct the situation because it would be a shame to let
Lake O get into ruins."
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
<promed@promedmail.org>
[There are a number of very toxic blue-green algae or cyanobacteria.
The toxin may be present even if the algae are not, and likewise the
algae may be present but the toxin may not be. However, safety for
humans and animals means avoiding bodies of water with any blue-green
algae. "There are a number of blue-green algae, many of which are
toxic, frequently resulting in rapid death for animals. Blue-green
algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are a group of photosynthetic
bacteria that many people refer to as 'pond scum.' Blue-green algae
are most often blue-green in color, but can also be blue, green,
reddish-purple, or brown. Blue-green algae generally grow in lakes,
ponds, and slow-moving streams when the water is warm and enriched
with nutrients like phosphorus or nitrogen.
"When environmental conditions are just right, blue-green algae can
grow very quickly. Most species are buoyant and will float to the
surface, where they form scum layers or floating mats. When this
happens, we call this a 'blue-green algae bloom.' Blue-green algae
blooms generally occur between mid-June and late September, although
in rare instances, blooms have been observed in winter, even under the
ice. Also in warmer years, blooms may be found in the Northern
Hemisphere as early as April.
"Many different species of blue-green algae occur, but the most
commonly detected include _Anabaena_ sp, _Aphanizomenon_ sp,
_Microcystis_ sp, and _Planktothrix_ sp. It is not always the same
species that blooms in a given water body, and the dominant species
can change over the course of the season.
"Blue-green algal toxins are naturally produced chemical compounds
that sometimes are produced inside the cells of certain species of
blue-green algae. These chemicals are not produced all of the time,
and there is no easy way to tell when blue-green algae are producing
them and when they are not. When the cells are broken open, the toxins
may be released. Sometimes this occurs when the cells die off
naturally and they break open as they sink and decay in a lake or
pond. Cells may also be broken open when the water is treated with
chemicals meant to kill algae, and when cells are swallowed and mixed
with digestive acids in the stomachs of people or animals.
"Typical clinical signs in dogs exposed to blue-green algae include
seizures, vomiting, and/or diarrhea after contact with surface water.
Although the water appears clear, if a 'bloom' is just starting, it
may be difficult to see any sheen, an early indication of blue-green
algae formation. Some forms of blue-green algae may start forming
slightly below the surface and may not be visible, but are just as
toxic.
"One toxic alga frequently involved in illness and deaths is
_Microcystis aeruginosa_, a single-celled blue green alga, or
cyanobacterium, that occurs naturally in surface waters. Microcystis
can proliferate to form dense blooms and mats under certain
conditions. Many variants of these cyanobacteria produce multiple
toxins, including the potent liver toxin microcystin. When microcystis
die, their cells break open, releasing the toxin microcystin into the
water. Ingestion of water or algal cells containing microcystin has
produced adverse effects in fish, dogs, cats, livestock, and humans.
Sometimes the mats and the sheen of the organisms are visible on the
surface of the water, if it is a pond. In larger bodies of water, such
as large lakes, it may be more difficult or impossible to see the
sheen or the mat of accumulation.
"People swimming in dense microcystis blooms have experienced
irritation such as skin rashes, burns, and blistering of the mouth.
Ingestion or inhalation of water containing dense bloom material may
cause vomiting, nausea, headaches, diarrhea, pneumonia, and fever.
Ingestion of significant levels of the toxin microcystin can cause
liver damage and dysfunction in humans and animals. No deaths from
ingestion of microcystins have been reported in humans in the US;
however, Brazil has reported human deaths. Dogs, wildlife, and
livestock have died following exposure to this toxin.
"Microcystis blooms typically thrive in warm, turbid, and slow-moving
waters. The blooms with the highest biomass occur in waters that are
high in nitrogen or phosphorus (eutrophic waters). Microcystis also
requires sufficient light intensity to conduct photosynthesis, which
results in blooms.
"The commonest route of exposure to microcystin is drinking water,
followed by recreational exposures and food supplements. Typical water
treatment processes do not fully remove microcystin that might be
present in drinking water supplies stored in reservoirs. Swimming and
playing in water that contains, or recently contained, microcystis
blooms is another common exposure route. Children have the highest
risk of exposure since they tend to unintentionally ingest water while
swimming. Microcystin can move through the aquatic food web, exposing
fish and shellfish, as well as the people who consume them.
Microcystin does not remain in edible fish and shellfish tissues for
more than a few weeks. However, people who frequently consume sport
fish caught from a water body that supports microcystis blooms have a
higher risk of exposure. Dogs can ingest large amounts of microcystis
cells when they clean their coats after playing in water. Livestock,
wildlife, and dogs are exposed through drinking water containing
microcystis or through ingesting algal mats."
Toxins produced by blue-green algae
-----------------------------------
Toxins are compounds that have a harmful effect on other cells,
tissues and organisms. In the natural environment, these toxins are
generally contained within the blue-green algal cell but they are
released into the water when the cell is damaged or dies.
Blue-green algal toxins can be divided into the following groups:
1. Hepatotoxins
- Hepatotoxins cause blood to collect in the liver causing circulatory
shock and can lead to death by internal hemorrhaging.
- Hepatotoxins can cause weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Nodularin and microcystin are 2 types of hepatotoxins.
- Nodularin is produced by the algal species _Nodularia spumigena_.
- In NSW [New South Wales, Australia], microcystin is produced by
_Microcystis_.
- Microcystins can bioaccumulate in aquatic invertebrates such as
mussels so aquatic animals caught from water where there is an algal
bloom should not be eaten.
2. Neurotoxins
- Neurotoxins interfere with the functioning of the nervous system and
can cause death of humans and animals within minutes by causing
paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
- In NSW, a neurotoxin known as saxitoxin is produced by the
blue-green alga _Anabaena_.
- Marine dinoflagellates (red tides) produce saxitoxins (also known as
paralytic shellfish poisons) which concentrate in shellfish and have
been known to cause death in humans.
3. Non-specific Toxins
- Cylindrospermopsin is a non-specific toxin that in NSW is produced
by the blue-green algae _Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii_ and
_Aphanizomenon ovalisporum_.
- This toxin is a relatively slow-acting toxin that damages most
organs in the body including the liver.
4. Dermatoxic Lipopolysachharides
- When non-toxic species of blue-green algae are present at
concentrations above 10 cubic mm per litre, the water may still pose a
risk to recreational and domestic users as all blue-green algae have
lipopolysachharides in their cell walls.
- Lipopolysachharides are less toxic than hepatotoxins or neurotoxins
but are significant in terms of water supply for drinking, showering
and recreation.
- Lipopolysachharides have been associated with outbreaks of
gastroenteritis, skin and eye irritations and hay fever, in humans who
have come into contact with algal blooms. Humans who contact
lipopolysachharides in the aerosol form (fine spray e.g. sprinkler)
may suffer asthma, eczema, and blisters in the lining of the nose and
mouth.
A microscopic look at microcystin can be found at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcystis_aeruginosa> and
<https://www.epa.gov/nutrient-policy-data/cyanobacteriacyanotoxins>.
The 2nd link also has pictures of how the water looks with this
organism.
Portions of this comment were extracted from
<http://oehha.ca.gov/ecotox/pdf/microfactsheet122408.pdf> and
<http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/water-management/water-quality/algal-information>.
- Mod.TG
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at:
<http://healthmap.org/promed/p/53309>.]
[See Also:
Toxic algae - Australia: (NS) blue-green algae, alert
http://promedmail.org/post/20160202.3988561
Toxic algae - New Zealand: (CA) blue-green algae
http://promedmail.org/post/20160129.3976985
2015
----
Toxic algae - Australia: blue-green algae
http://promedmail.org/post/20151122.3810134
Toxic algae - UK (04): water, warning
http://promedmail.org/post/20151007.3698634
Toxic algae - UK (03): (England) water, warning
http://promedmail.org/post/20151004.3689405
Toxic algae - Canada (AB) http://promedmail.org/post/20150828.3608622
Toxic algae - UK (02): (England) canine, fatal, alert
http://promedmail.org/post/20150825.3599933
Toxic algae - USA (04): (KS) water, alert
http://promedmail.org/post/20150822.3596160
Toxic algae - USA (03): (MA)
http://promedmail.org/post/20150816.3581352
Toxic algae - UK: (North Wales) warning
http://promedmail.org/post/20150816.3581349
Toxic algae - China (AH) http://promedmail.org/post/20150811.3570037
Toxic algae - USA (02): (MN) alert
http://promedmail.org/post/20150704.3484283
Toxic algae - USA: (MN) pet deaths, alert
http://promedmail.org/post/20150616.3440485
2013
----
Toxic algae, municipal water - USA: (OH)
http://promedmail.org/post/20130916.1946699
Toxic algae, fish - USA: (MT)
http://promedmail.org/post/20130910.1934702
Undiagnosed die-off, manatee - USA: (FL) toxic algae susp.
http://promedmail.org/post/20130329.1609882
Die-off, cervids - USA: (NM) blue-green algae
http://promedmail.org/post/20131105.2039171
2009
----
Toxic algae, avian die-off - USA
http://promedmail.org/post/20091215.4250
Blue-green algae, canine death - USA: (M
**********************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: Thu 19 May 2016
Source: ABC 7 [edited]
<http://www.abc-7.com/story/32019210/toxic-bacteria-found-in-lake-o-algae-bloom>
33 square miles of blue-green algae are covering the southern end of
Lake Okeechobee [Florida]. It's the perfect place for the algae to
grow, according to John Campbell with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Campbell said still water, warm temperatures and water fueled with
certain nutrients are a mixture that can create blue-green algae.
Tests were run on the algae and results are in: traces of toxic
bacteria called microcystin were found living inside the algae. "It
definitely caught us off guard 'cause we come here every year to
fish," said a Lake Okeechobee visitor. But this year, his hook is
turning up empty.
"When we 1st got here, we were very concerned because the water looked
really nasty," said [another visitor]. Instead of fishing in Lake
Okeechobee, the fishermen are going out a little bit further to the
Everglades where the algae isn't seen. "Obviously, if the fish is
consuming that and then we consume it ... obviously, we could consume
the same toxins," said [the 1st visitor].
So what does this mean for people in Southwest Florida?
"Water that is in motion down the Caloosahatchee River by far should
reduce the probability of a large-scale alga bloom," said Campbell.
But small bundles of blue-green algae may find its way into areas that
are still along the Caloosahatchee.
Many people enjoying the water just wish to see things clear up. "I
hope they can correct the situation because it would be a shame to let
Lake O get into ruins."
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
<promed@promedmail.org>
[There are a number of very toxic blue-green algae or cyanobacteria.
The toxin may be present even if the algae are not, and likewise the
algae may be present but the toxin may not be. However, safety for
humans and animals means avoiding bodies of water with any blue-green
algae. "There are a number of blue-green algae, many of which are
toxic, frequently resulting in rapid death for animals. Blue-green
algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are a group of photosynthetic
bacteria that many people refer to as 'pond scum.' Blue-green algae
are most often blue-green in color, but can also be blue, green,
reddish-purple, or brown. Blue-green algae generally grow in lakes,
ponds, and slow-moving streams when the water is warm and enriched
with nutrients like phosphorus or nitrogen.
"When environmental conditions are just right, blue-green algae can
grow very quickly. Most species are buoyant and will float to the
surface, where they form scum layers or floating mats. When this
happens, we call this a 'blue-green algae bloom.' Blue-green algae
blooms generally occur between mid-June and late September, although
in rare instances, blooms have been observed in winter, even under the
ice. Also in warmer years, blooms may be found in the Northern
Hemisphere as early as April.
"Many different species of blue-green algae occur, but the most
commonly detected include _Anabaena_ sp, _Aphanizomenon_ sp,
_Microcystis_ sp, and _Planktothrix_ sp. It is not always the same
species that blooms in a given water body, and the dominant species
can change over the course of the season.
"Blue-green algal toxins are naturally produced chemical compounds
that sometimes are produced inside the cells of certain species of
blue-green algae. These chemicals are not produced all of the time,
and there is no easy way to tell when blue-green algae are producing
them and when they are not. When the cells are broken open, the toxins
may be released. Sometimes this occurs when the cells die off
naturally and they break open as they sink and decay in a lake or
pond. Cells may also be broken open when the water is treated with
chemicals meant to kill algae, and when cells are swallowed and mixed
with digestive acids in the stomachs of people or animals.
"Typical clinical signs in dogs exposed to blue-green algae include
seizures, vomiting, and/or diarrhea after contact with surface water.
Although the water appears clear, if a 'bloom' is just starting, it
may be difficult to see any sheen, an early indication of blue-green
algae formation. Some forms of blue-green algae may start forming
slightly below the surface and may not be visible, but are just as
toxic.
"One toxic alga frequently involved in illness and deaths is
_Microcystis aeruginosa_, a single-celled blue green alga, or
cyanobacterium, that occurs naturally in surface waters. Microcystis
can proliferate to form dense blooms and mats under certain
conditions. Many variants of these cyanobacteria produce multiple
toxins, including the potent liver toxin microcystin. When microcystis
die, their cells break open, releasing the toxin microcystin into the
water. Ingestion of water or algal cells containing microcystin has
produced adverse effects in fish, dogs, cats, livestock, and humans.
Sometimes the mats and the sheen of the organisms are visible on the
surface of the water, if it is a pond. In larger bodies of water, such
as large lakes, it may be more difficult or impossible to see the
sheen or the mat of accumulation.
"People swimming in dense microcystis blooms have experienced
irritation such as skin rashes, burns, and blistering of the mouth.
Ingestion or inhalation of water containing dense bloom material may
cause vomiting, nausea, headaches, diarrhea, pneumonia, and fever.
Ingestion of significant levels of the toxin microcystin can cause
liver damage and dysfunction in humans and animals. No deaths from
ingestion of microcystins have been reported in humans in the US;
however, Brazil has reported human deaths. Dogs, wildlife, and
livestock have died following exposure to this toxin.
"Microcystis blooms typically thrive in warm, turbid, and slow-moving
waters. The blooms with the highest biomass occur in waters that are
high in nitrogen or phosphorus (eutrophic waters). Microcystis also
requires sufficient light intensity to conduct photosynthesis, which
results in blooms.
"The commonest route of exposure to microcystin is drinking water,
followed by recreational exposures and food supplements. Typical water
treatment processes do not fully remove microcystin that might be
present in drinking water supplies stored in reservoirs. Swimming and
playing in water that contains, or recently contained, microcystis
blooms is another common exposure route. Children have the highest
risk of exposure since they tend to unintentionally ingest water while
swimming. Microcystin can move through the aquatic food web, exposing
fish and shellfish, as well as the people who consume them.
Microcystin does not remain in edible fish and shellfish tissues for
more than a few weeks. However, people who frequently consume sport
fish caught from a water body that supports microcystis blooms have a
higher risk of exposure. Dogs can ingest large amounts of microcystis
cells when they clean their coats after playing in water. Livestock,
wildlife, and dogs are exposed through drinking water containing
microcystis or through ingesting algal mats."
Toxins produced by blue-green algae
-----------------------------------
Toxins are compounds that have a harmful effect on other cells,
tissues and organisms. In the natural environment, these toxins are
generally contained within the blue-green algal cell but they are
released into the water when the cell is damaged or dies.
Blue-green algal toxins can be divided into the following groups:
1. Hepatotoxins
- Hepatotoxins cause blood to collect in the liver causing circulatory
shock and can lead to death by internal hemorrhaging.
- Hepatotoxins can cause weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Nodularin and microcystin are 2 types of hepatotoxins.
- Nodularin is produced by the algal species _Nodularia spumigena_.
- In NSW [New South Wales, Australia], microcystin is produced by
_Microcystis_.
- Microcystins can bioaccumulate in aquatic invertebrates such as
mussels so aquatic animals caught from water where there is an algal
bloom should not be eaten.
2. Neurotoxins
- Neurotoxins interfere with the functioning of the nervous system and
can cause death of humans and animals within minutes by causing
paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
- In NSW, a neurotoxin known as saxitoxin is produced by the
blue-green alga _Anabaena_.
- Marine dinoflagellates (red tides) produce saxitoxins (also known as
paralytic shellfish poisons) which concentrate in shellfish and have
been known to cause death in humans.
3. Non-specific Toxins
- Cylindrospermopsin is a non-specific toxin that in NSW is produced
by the blue-green algae _Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii_ and
_Aphanizomenon ovalisporum_.
- This toxin is a relatively slow-acting toxin that damages most
organs in the body including the liver.
4. Dermatoxic Lipopolysachharides
- When non-toxic species of blue-green algae are present at
concentrations above 10 cubic mm per litre, the water may still pose a
risk to recreational and domestic users as all blue-green algae have
lipopolysachharides in their cell walls.
- Lipopolysachharides are less toxic than hepatotoxins or neurotoxins
but are significant in terms of water supply for drinking, showering
and recreation.
- Lipopolysachharides have been associated with outbreaks of
gastroenteritis, skin and eye irritations and hay fever, in humans who
have come into contact with algal blooms. Humans who contact
lipopolysachharides in the aerosol form (fine spray e.g. sprinkler)
may suffer asthma, eczema, and blisters in the lining of the nose and
mouth.
A microscopic look at microcystin can be found at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcystis_aeruginosa> and
<https://www.epa.gov/nutrient-policy-data/cyanobacteriacyanotoxins>.
The 2nd link also has pictures of how the water looks with this
organism.
Portions of this comment were extracted from
<http://oehha.ca.gov/ecotox/pdf/microfactsheet122408.pdf> and
<http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/water-management/water-quality/algal-information>.
- Mod.TG
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at:
<http://healthmap.org/promed/p/53309>.]
[See Also:
Toxic algae - Australia: (NS) blue-green algae, alert
http://promedmail.org/post/20160202.3988561
Toxic algae - New Zealand: (CA) blue-green algae
http://promedmail.org/post/20160129.3976985
2015
----
Toxic algae - Australia: blue-green algae
http://promedmail.org/post/20151122.3810134
Toxic algae - UK (04): water, warning
http://promedmail.org/post/20151007.3698634
Toxic algae - UK (03): (England) water, warning
http://promedmail.org/post/20151004.3689405
Toxic algae - Canada (AB) http://promedmail.org/post/20150828.3608622
Toxic algae - UK (02): (England) canine, fatal, alert
http://promedmail.org/post/20150825.3599933
Toxic algae - USA (04): (KS) water, alert
http://promedmail.org/post/20150822.3596160
Toxic algae - USA (03): (MA)
http://promedmail.org/post/20150816.3581352
Toxic algae - UK: (North Wales) warning
http://promedmail.org/post/20150816.3581349
Toxic algae - China (AH) http://promedmail.org/post/20150811.3570037
Toxic algae - USA (02): (MN) alert
http://promedmail.org/post/20150704.3484283
Toxic algae - USA: (MN) pet deaths, alert
http://promedmail.org/post/20150616.3440485
2013
----
Toxic algae, municipal water - USA: (OH)
http://promedmail.org/post/20130916.1946699
Toxic algae, fish - USA: (MT)
http://promedmail.org/post/20130910.1934702
Undiagnosed die-off, manatee - USA: (FL) toxic algae susp.
http://promedmail.org/post/20130329.1609882
Die-off, cervids - USA: (NM) blue-green algae
http://promedmail.org/post/20131105.2039171
2009
----
Toxic algae, avian die-off - USA
http://promedmail.org/post/20091215.4250
Blue-green algae, canine death - USA: (M