People in close proximity to Pfiesteria cultures in at least five different laboratories, or following direct contact with waters at fish kills, have developed ill effects ranging from narcosis, eye irritation, acute burning of skin and skin lesions, stomach cramping, respiratory distress, cognitive impairment, and …
What causes Pfiesteria?
What is Pfiesteria? Pfiesteria is only one cause of fish kills. Other causes include a lack of dissolved oxygen in the water, changes in water salinity or temperature, sewage or chemical spills, red or brown tides, infections, and other environmental changes.
What is Pfiesteria toxin?
Pfiestefia piscicida (fee-STEER-ee-uh pis-kuh-SEED-uh) is a toxic dinoflagellate that has been associated with fish lesions and fish kills in coastal waters from Delaware to North Carolina.
How is Pfiesteria spread?
The exact chemistry and biology of the toxin is unknown; however, it is known that Pfiesteria piscicida itself is not an infectious agent; it does not spread from fish to fish or from fish to humans. The toxin is very short-lived in water.
Is there a cure for Pfiesteria?
There are no precedents for the treatment of Pfiesteria or any dinoflagellate toxin-related human illness reported in the literature. The successful use of cholestyramine reported here may provide a model for understanding dinoflagellate toxin physiology in the human body.
Who named Pfiesteria?
The team of researchers that identified and named Pfiesteria piscicida and P. shumwayae claims that the organism has a complex life cycle with at least 24 flagellated, amoeboid, and encysted stages or forms (Steidinger et al., 1996, Burkholder and Glasgow 1997, Glasgow et al. 2001).
What kind of protist is Pfiesteria?
Pfiesteria piscicida | |
---|---|
Phylum: | Myzozoa |
Superclass: | Dinoflagellata |
Class: | Dinophyceae |
Order: | Thoracosphaerales |
What impact does Pfiesteria have on the environment?
Recent evidence suggests that the estuarine dinofageflate, Pfiesteria piscicida, may release a toxin(s) which kills fish and adversely affects human health in laboratory and environmental settings.
What type of organisms are responsible for Pfiesteria piscicida?
Level I – Pfiesteria piscicida is a microscopic organism called a dinoflagellate and is a natural part of the marine environment. It has been associated with fish lesions and fish kills in Maryland, Delaware and North Carolina.
How does Pfiesteria prey and feed on the fish?
Feeding strategy
Release of a toxin paralyzes the respiratory systems of susceptible fish, such as menhaden, causing death by suffocation. Pfiesteria then consumes the tissue sloughed off its dead prey.
Is a dinoflagellate that causes fish kills?
3.6 Pfiesteria Toxins
The toxic dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria piscicida, is found in the brackish water of estuaries. P. piscicida has been implicated in fish kills and fish disease.
What triggers Pfiesteria change from a harmless algae feeder to a toxin producing fish killer?
What triggers does Pfiesteria change from a harmless algae feeder to a toxin producing fish killer? The presence of high levels of nutrients and large populations of fish. … Because one factor of the system (pesticides) changed many things (including the health of fish).
Which of the following are symptoms of those infected by the toxins of Pfiesteria Piscicida?
These include acute respiratory and eye irritation, gastroenteritis (stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting), fatigue, and headaches (Glasgow et al. 1995, Grattan et al.
What are the observed economic impacts of Pfiesteria Piscicida?
We find that the economic effects of a Pfiesteria-related fish kill are substantial. The lost consumer surplus due to a Pfiesteria-related fish kill is estimated to be between $2 and $3 per meal depending on whether no information, counter information or a seafood inspection program is provided to the consumer.
Is Pfiesteria toxic?
An unusual toxic algal species, Pfiesteria piscicida, has touched our fears of going into the water. Photo by Wade Spees. Toxic algae can be dangerous to human health as well. Around the world, thousands of people are poisoned annually by eating shellfish or tropical fish contaminated by algal toxins, experts say.
Why is Pfiesteria called the Phantom dinoflagellate?
1992; Burkholder and Glasgow 1997). The term phantom derives from the observation that the dinoflagellate appears to encyst and return to the sediments after stunning and killing fish (Burkholder et al. 1992).
Which protist releases nerve toxins?
Of those causative organisms, dinoflagellates, a very large and diverse group of eukaryotic algae in the marine ecosystem, are the major group producing toxins that impact humans [4, 10].
What type of cell is a protozoa?
Protozoa are single celled organisms. They come in many different shapes and sizes ranging from an Amoeba which can change its shape to Paramecium with its fixed shape and complex structure. They live in a wide variety of moist habitats including fresh water, marine environments and the soil.
Where was Pfiesteria Piscicida discovered?
Discovered in 1988 by researchers at North Carolina State University, Pfiesteria piscicida is believed to have a highly complex life-cycle with 24 reported forms, a few of which can produce toxins.
What are some anthropogenic sources of nutrient rich waste that enters the Neuse River?
The Neuse flows through a region dominated by large industrial-scale hog farms, agri- cultural fields, and rapidly- growing-suburban areas, all of which contribute fertilizer runoff and nutrient-rich waste to the river water. A sudden increase in nutrient concentrations caused by these.
How do you pronounce Pfiesteria Piscicida?
Pfiesteria piscicida Pronunciation. Pfi·es·te·ri·a pis·ci·ci·da.
What is red tide in dinoflagellates?
A red tide is a phenomenon of discoloration of sea surface. It is a common name for harmful algal blooms occurring along coastal regions, which result from large concentrations of aquatic microorganisms, such as protozoans and unicellular algae (e.g. dinoflagellates and diatoms).
What do Saxitoxins do?
Saxitoxin is a neurotoxin that acts as a selective, reversible, voltage-gated sodium channel blocker. One of the most potent known natural toxins, it acts on the voltage-gated sodium channels of neurons, preventing normal cellular function and leading to paralysis.
How many types of poisoning are associated with dinoflagellate bloom?
With respect to the contaminants of toxic dinoflagellates in seafood, there are two main types of poisoning in humans. The terms fish and shellfish are associated with these illnesses because the toxins are concentrated in fish and shellfish that ingest the harmful dinoflagellates.
Who uses more resources per capita?
While China is becoming the world’s leader in total consumption of some commodities (coal, copper, etc.), the U.S. remains the per capita consumption leader for most resources. Overall, National Geographic’s Greendex found that American consumers rank last of 17 countries surveyed in regard to sustainable behavior.
Is biological diversity increasing decreasing or staying the same?
Species diversity has been maintained at an approximately even level or at most a slowly increasing rate, although punctuated by brief periods of accelerated extinction every few tens of millions of years. The more similar the species under consideration, the more consistent the balance.