Risks for environmental health in coastal zones investigated from eDNA.

Abstract

Alexandriumgenus (Dinophyceae, Gonyaulacales) includes a number of species producing neurotoxins responsible ofa human disease when infected shellfish is consumed: paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), whose effects are muscular paralysis, neurological symptoms and even death. This genus is broadly distributed and have producedsevere impacts on both human health and shellfish aquaculturein several countries. Procedures regardingthe detection ofAlexandriumspecies include microscopic observation of phytoplankton community, which is time-consuming and requires well-trained personnel. Within this frame, molecular tools might be a good helper to accurately detect harmful organisms in given water samples. This study makes use ofalready developed primersto elucidate whether toxic dinoflagellates of Alexandriumgenus are present in Asturias (Northern Spain) through environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques.