Browsing by Author "Ballot, A."
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Item Analysis of the cyanotoxins anatoxin-a and microcystins in Lesser Flamingo feathers.(Taylor & Francis, 2006) Metcalf, J.S.; Morrison, L.F.; Krienitz, L.; Ballot, A.; Krause, E.; Kotut, Kiplagat; Pütz, S.; Wiegand, C.; Pflugmacher, S.; Codd, G.A.Feathers from carcasses of the Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor), which had died after ingesting cyanobacterial toxins (cyanotoxins) contained between 0.02 and 30.0 µg microcystin-LR equivalents per gram of feather according to HPLC and ELISA analysis of feather extracts. Anatoxin-a was detected less frequently in the Lesser Flamingo feathers, up to 0.8 µg anatoxin-a per gram of feather being recorded. When feathers from different body regions were analysed and compared for microcystins and anatoxin-a, wing feathers were found to contain the highest concentrations of these cyanotoxins, the order of concentration and frequency of analytical detection being wing > breast > head. Consistent with the presence of the microcystins and anatoxin-a in gut contents and the livers of the dead birds and negligible in vitro adsorption to feathers, the cyanotoxins associated with the feathers of the dead wild flamingos are inferred to be primarily of dietary originItem Changes of phytoplankton communities in Lakes Naivasha and Oloidien, examples of degradation and salinization of lakes in the Kenyan Rift Valley(Springer, 2009) Ballot, A.; Kotut, Kiplagat; Novelo, E.; Krienitz, L.Increasing degradation of the water quality, caused by overuse and salinization, leads to considerable changes of the phytoplankton composition in Kenyan Rift Valley lakes. Exemplarily, the phytoplankton communities and biomasses of deteriorating freshwater Lake Naivasha and salinizing Lake Oloidien were studied between 2001 and 2005, accompanied by physico-chemical measurements (pH, total phosphorus and nitrogen, alkalinity, conductivity). Over the last three decades, the ecology of these two water basins has been subjected to dramatic changes, caused by excessive use of water and catchment area by man. In L. Naivasha a shift in the dominance of coccoid cyanobacteria towards dominance of Chlorophyceae (Botryococcus terribilis) was observed. Lake Oloidien exhibited a shift in the dominance of coccoid Chlorophyceae towards dominance of cyanobacteria (Arthrospira fusiformis, Anabaenopsis elenkinii). Phytoplankton findings and chemical data demonstrate that L. Naivasha has developed towards a eutrophic freshwater lake while L. Oloidien has progressed towards a hypereutrophic alkaline-saline lake.Item Contribution of hot spring cyanobacteria to the mysterious deaths of Lesser Flamingos at Lake Bogoria, Kenya(Elsevier, 2003-03-01) Krienitz, L.; Ballot, A.; Kotut, Kiplagat; Wiegand, C.; Pütz, S.; Metcalf, J.S.; Codd, G.A.; Pflugmacher, S.Cyanobacterial mats at hot springs on the shore of the alkaline Lake Bogoria, Kenya, were investigated regarding species community and cyanobacterial toxin content. The hepatotoxins microcystin-LR, -RR, -LF and -YR, and the neurotoxin anatoxin-a were present. The mats were dominated by Phormidium terebriformis, Oscillatoria willei, Spirulina subsalsa and Synechococcus bigranulatus. The concentration of microcystins in mat samples, ranged from 221 to 845 microg microcystin-LR equivalents g(-1) DW of mat. Anatoxin-a concentrations ranged from 10 to 18 microg g(-1) DW of mat. A contribution of the cyanobacterial toxins from the hot spring mats to the mass mortalities of Lesser Flamingos is suggested by: (a), the presence of hot spring cyanobacterial cells and cell fragments, and high concentrations of the cyanobacterial hepato- and neurotoxins in flamingo stomach contents and faecal pellets; (b), observations of neurological signs of bird poisoning at the lake. Cyanobacterial toxins in stomach contents, intestine and fecal pellets were 0.196 microg g(-1) fresh weight (FW) for the microcystins and 4.34 microg g(-1) FW for anatoxin-a. Intoxication with cyanobacterial toxins could occur by uptake of detached cyanobacterial cells from the mats, as the flamingos need to drink fresh or brackish water, and to wash their feathers daily, which they do in the vicinity of the hot springs, where salinity is lower than in the main body of water of the lake.Item Contribution of tixic cynobacteria to massive deaths of lesser flamingoes at saline-alkaline lakes of Kenya(2003) Krienitz, L.; Ballot, A.; Casper, P.; Codd, G.A.; Kotut, Kiplagat; Metcalf, J.S.; Morrison, L.F.; Pflugmacher, S.; Wiegand, C.Item A cyano-anomaly? Cyanobacterial toxins as contributors to Lesser Flamingo mass deaths(2003-10) Codd, G.A.; Metcalf, J.S.; Morrison, L.F.; Krienitz, L.; Ballot, A.; Pflugmacher, S.; Wiegand, C.; Kotut, KiplagatIn the present study, significative HAB’S bloom was confirmed in Matanchén Bay during Febrary 2003. The Raphidophice Fibrocapsa cf. japonica, Toriumi et Takano 1973 (=Chatonella japonica) has dominated (97%) red tide event occurring lately in coastal waters of Nayarit state, with high cell concentration of 4-6 millions of cells per liter of water. The duration of this bloom could not be determined exactly due to limiting sampling. There have been no reports of fish kills or human intoxication in the locality. This study represents the first survey on the distribution of Fibrocapsa cf. • Mexico japonica in the Mexican Pacific coast. The finding adds Raphidophyceans to the list of harmful algal blooms and toxin producers in Mexico.Item Cyanobacteria and cyanobacterial toxins in the alkaline crater lakes Sonachi and Simbi, Kenya(Elsevier, 2005-01) Ballot, A.; Krienitz, L.; Kotut, Kiplagat; Wiegand, C.; Pflugmacher, S.The phytoplankton communities and the production of cyanobacterial toxins were investigated in two alkaline Kenyan crater lakes, Lake Sonachi and Lake Simbi. Lake Sonachi was mainly dominated by the cyanobacterium Arthrospira fusiformis, Lake Simbi by A. fusiformis and Anabaenopsis abijatae. The phytoplankton biomasses measured were high, reaching up to 3159 mg l−1 in L. Sonachi and up to 348 mg l−1 in L. Simbi. Using HPLC techniques, one structural variant of the hepatotoxin microcystin (microcystin-RR) was found in L. Sonachi and four variants (microcystin-LR, -RR, -LA and -YR) were identified in L. Simbi. The neurotoxin anatoxin-a was found in both lakes. To our knowledge this is the first evidence of cyanobacterial toxins in L. Sonachi and L. Simbi. Total microcystin concentrations varied from 1.6 to 12.0 μg microcystin-LR equivalents g−1 DW in L. Sonachi and from 19.7 to 39.0 μg microcystin-LR equivalents g−1 DW in L. Simbi. Anatoxin-a concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 μg g−1 DW in L. Sonachi and from 0 to 1.4 μg g−1 DW in L. Simbi. In a monocyanobacterial strain of A. fusiformis, isolated from L. Sonachi, microcystin-YR and anatoxin-a were produced. The concentrations found were 2.2 μg microcystin g−1 DW and 0.3 μg anatoxin-a g−1 DW. This is the first study showing A. fusiformis as producer of microcystins and anatoxin-a. Since A. fusiformis occurs in mass developments in both lakes, a health risk for wildlife can be expected.Item Cyanotoxin-producing bloom of Anabaena flos-aquae, Anabaena discoidea and Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanobacteria) in Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya(2002) Krienitz, L.; Ballot, A.; Wiegand, C.; Kotut, Kiplagat; Codd, G.A.; Pflugmacher, S.A bloom of Anabaena flos-aquae, Anabaena discoidea and Microcystis aeruginosa, was characterized in Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria, near Kisumu, Kenya. According to classical literature data, A. discoidea was considered to be endemic to the Great Lakes of Africa. Its morphological characteristics are described and discussed in relation to A. flos-aquae. The two samples investigated contained the cyanobacterial toxins, microcystin-LR, -RR, -LA and -LF.Item Molecular detection of uncultured cyanobacteria and aminotransferase domains for cyanotoxin production in sediments of different Kenyan lakes(Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2009-04-15) Dadheech, Pawan K.; Krienitz, L.; Kotut, Kiplagat; Ballot, A.; Casper, P.PCR-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragments was used to identify the cyanobacterial phylotypes in sediments and plankton of saline–alkaline and freshwater lakes of Kenya. The detection of the aminotransferase domain located on modules mcyE and ndaF using specific molecular markers confirmed the presence of potential toxin-producing cyanobacteria. The eight nucleotide sequences obtained from DGGE bands were placed in three divergent cyanobacterial clusters. Five nucleotide sequences were close to members of the genera Anabaenopsis and Umezakia (Nostocales), two sequences fell in the cluster with Arthrospira sp. (Oscillatoriales) and one sequence was related to Chroococcidiopsis sp. (Pleurocapsales). The presence of the latter taxon was demonstrated de novo in the investigated lakes. All nine attained nucleotide sequences of the aminotransferase region belonged to the mcyE module. Five sequences of the aminotransferase domain were included in the cluster having the nucleotide sequence of Anabaena sp. but showed a separate lineage. Other four aminotransferases were placed in the cluster represented by nucleotide sequence of Microcystis aeruginosa. To our knowledge, this is the first report on molecular detection of cyanobacterial phylotypes in sediments of African lakes and aminotransferase domains for cyanotoxin production from sediment samples in general.Item Phylogenetic relationship and divergence among planktonic strains of Arthrospira (Oscillatoriales, Cyanobacteria) of African, Asian and American origin deduced by 16S–23S ITS and phycocyanin operon sequences(2010-07) Dadheech, Pawan K.; Ballot, A.; Casper, P.; Kotut, Kiplagat; Novelo, E.; Lemma, B.; Proschold, T.; Krienitz, L.Arthrospira comprises multicellular, cylindrical, usually screwlike coiled trichomes and is cultivated commercially. In this study, 33 new strains of Arthrospira isolated from plankton samples collected in Mexico, East Africa and India were investigated and compared with 53 strains or samples of earlier considerations. The study included observations of morphological features and molecular phylogenetic analyses on the basis of nucleotide sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) between 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes and partial sequences of beta and alpha subunits including intergenic spacer (cpcBA-IGS) of phycocyanin operon. Morphological traits of Arthrospira such as trichome width, type of coiling and apical cell were not always consistent in culture conditions. It was revealed that Arthrospira phylogeny on the basis of cpcBA-IGS locus was broadly comparable with the ITS region as both phylogenetic trees derived from nucleotide sequences could be divided into two main clusters. Cluster I comprised sequences from American strains mainly, whereas cluster II contained the sequences of the strains originating from Africa and Asia chiefly. Both genetic regions of the strains investigated in the present study coincidently showed a significant sequence divergence among Arthrospira strains from East Africa, India and Mexico indicating possible distinct evolutionary lineages.Item Toxic cyanobacteria and their toxins in standing waters of Kenya: implications for water resource use(2006-06) Kotut, Kiplagat; Ballot, A.; Krienitz, L.Phytoplankton biodiversity studies in Kenya's standing waters were carried out between 2001 and 2003. Toxin producing cyanobacteria were recorded in twelve water bodies. Microcystis and Anabaena were the most common species in freshwaters while Anabaena and Anabaenopsis were common in alkaline saline lakes. Seven lakes with cyanobacteria blooms and a hot spring had detectable levels of microcystins and anatoxin-a. Cell bound microcystins (LR equivalents) concentration ranged from 1.6-19800 microgg(-1) Dry Weight (DW) while anatoxin-a varied from below the limit of detection to 1260 microgg(-1) DW. In alkaline-saline lakes, microcystins and anatoxin-a were also present in stomach contents and liver samples of dead flamingos. Monoculture strains of A. fusiformis from Lakes Sonachi and Bogoria had detectable levels of microcystins while anatoxin-a was present in strains isolated from Lakes Sonachi, Bogoria and Nakuru. Two freshwater sites, Nyanza Gulf (L. Victoria) and Lake Baringo recorded cyanotoxin concentration exceeding WHO'S upper limit of 1.0 microgl(-1) for drinking water. The results confirm that cyanotoxins could have played a role in the mortality of flamingos in Lakes Bogoria and Nakuru. The implications of these findings on water resource use, measures to be taken to reduce the risk of exposure and eutrophication control steps to reduce cyanobacteria bloom formation are considered in this paper.