Amino acid neurotoxins in feathers of the Lesser Flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor

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dc.contributor.authorMetcalf, J.S.
dc.contributor.authorBanack, S.A.
dc.contributor.authorKotut, Kiplagat
dc.contributor.authorKrienitz, L.
dc.contributor.authorCodd, G.A.
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-15T13:27:00Z
dc.date.available2015-07-15T13:27:00Z
dc.date.issued2013-01
dc.descriptiondoi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.09.094en_US
dc.description.abstractThe Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) is known to use cyanobacteria (primarily Arthrospira) as a major food source in the East African Rift Valley lakes. Periodically, mass mortalities have occurred, associated with the cyanobacterial toxins (cyanotoxins), microcystins and anatoxin-a. Deposition of these cyanotoxins into P. minor feathers has been shown to occur, consistent with the presence of cyanotoxins in the livers, stomach and faecal contents after dietary intake. As cyanobacteria have been shown to also produce the neurotoxins β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB), stored wing feathers, previously recovered from flamingos which had been exposed to microcystins and anatoxin-a and had subsequently died, were analysed for these neurotoxic amino acids. Trace amounts of BMAA were detected in extracts from Lake Nakuru flamingo feathers, with DAB also present at concentrations between 3.5 and 8.5 μg g(-1) dry weight in feathers from both lakes. Toxin recovery by solid-phase extraction of feather digests was tested with spiked deuterated BMAA and showed good recovery when analysed by LC-MS/MS (80-94%). This is the first report of these neurotoxic amino acids in birds. We discuss the origin and significance of DAB, alongside other cyanotoxins of dietary origin, in the feathers of the Lesser Flamingo.en_US
dc.identifier.citationChemosphere. vol. 90(2) pp:835-9en_US
dc.identifier.issn0045-6535
dc.identifier.uriC:\Users\Library\Downloads\Documents\Metcalf et al. 2013 Chemosphere.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/216
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherElsevieren_US
dc.subjectLesser Flamingoen_US
dc.subjectCyanotoxinsen_US
dc.subjectDepositionen_US
dc.subjectNeurotoxinsen_US
dc.subjectAmino acidsen_US
dc.titleAmino acid neurotoxins in feathers of the Lesser Flamingo, Phoeniconaias minoren_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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