Development of a quantitative PCR assay for the detection and enumeration of a potentially ciguatoxin-producing dinoflagellate, Gambierdiscus lapillus (Gonyaulacales, Dinophyceae)

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224664
• Publication Date: 2019-11-15T13:52:45Z
• Authors: Anna Liza Kretzsc...; Arjun Verma; Gurjeet Kohli; Shauna Murray
• Keywords: Ciguatoxin; Ciguatera; Dinophyceae; Dinoflagellate; Sargassum

Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is an illness contracted through the ingestion of seafood containing ciguatoxins. It prevalent in tropical regions worldwide, including Australia. Ciguatoxins are produced by some species Gambierdiscus. Therefore, screening Gambierdiscus identification quantitative PCR (qPCR), along with determination toxicity, can be useful monitoring potential ciguatera risk these regions. In Australia, CFP Queensland and increasingly sub-tropical but has a report rate approximately 10%. Yet identity, distribution abundance ciguatoxin producing spp. largely unknown. this study, we developed rapid qPCR assay to quantify presence lapillus, likely ciguatoxic first described from We assessed specificity efficiency assay. The was tested on 25 environmental samples Heron Island reef southern Great Barrier Reef, endemic region, determine patchiness across Chnoospora sp., Padina sp. Sargassum macroalgal hosts.