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Are Pfiesteria Species Toxicogenic? Evidence Against Production Of Ichthyotoxins By Pfiesteria Shumwayae, Jp Berry, Kimberly S. Reece, Ks Rein, Dg Baden, Lw Haas, Wl Ribeiro, Jeffrey D. Shields, Rv Snyder, Wolfgang K. Vogelbein, Re Gawley
Are Pfiesteria Species Toxicogenic? Evidence Against Production Of Ichthyotoxins By Pfiesteria Shumwayae, Jp Berry, Kimberly S. Reece, Ks Rein, Dg Baden, Lw Haas, Wl Ribeiro, Jeffrey D. Shields, Rv Snyder, Wolfgang K. Vogelbein, Re Gawley
VIMS Articles
The estuarine genus Pfiesteria has received considerable attention since it was first identified and proposed to be the causative agent of fish kills along the mid-Atlantic coast in 1992. The presumption has been that the mechanism of fish death is by release of one or more toxins by the dinoflagellate. In this report, we challenge the notion that Pfiesteria species produce ichthyotoxins. Specifically, we show that (i) simple centrifugation, with and without ultrasonication, is sufficient to "detoxify" water of actively fish-killing cultures of Pfiesteria shumwayae, (ii) organic extracts of lyophilized cultures are not toxic to fish, (fit) degenerate primers that …