First Report of Pinnatoxin-G (PnTX-G) in a Marine–Coastal Area of the Adriatic Sea Associated with the Presence of the Dinoflagellate <i>Vulcanodinium rugosum</i>
Monica Cangini,
Sonia Dall’Ara,
Silva Rubini,
Barbara Bertasi,
Paolo Rizzi,
Giovanni Dell’Orfano,
Stefania Milandri,
Stefano Manfredini,
Erika Baldini,
Silvia Vertuani
Affiliations
Monica Cangini
Fondazione Centro Ricerche Marine, National Reference Laboratory for Marine Biotoxins, Viale A. Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico, Italy
Sonia Dall’Ara
Fondazione Centro Ricerche Marine, National Reference Laboratory for Marine Biotoxins, Viale A. Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico, Italy
Silva Rubini
Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna, Via Modena 483, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
Barbara Bertasi
Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna, Via A. Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Paolo Rizzi
AUSL Ferrara—Operational Unit “Food Hygiene of Animal Origin”, Via Cassoli 30, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Giovanni Dell’Orfano
AUSL Ferrara—Operational Unit “Food Hygiene of Animal Origin”, Via Cassoli 30, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Stefania Milandri
Fondazione Centro Ricerche Marine, National Reference Laboratory for Marine Biotoxins, Viale A. Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico, Italy
Stefano Manfredini
Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Erika Baldini
Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Silvia Vertuani
Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
This study reports the first detection of the marine neurotoxin pinnatoxin-G (PnTX-G) in clams collected in the northwestern Adriatic Sea (Italy). It also represents the first report of the potential toxin-producing dinoflagellate, Vulcanodinium rugosum, in Italian seas. This result, from the coasts of the Emilia-Romagna Region, indicates a successful colonization process, reflecting conditions in France where V. rugosum was initially documented. In this case, the concentration of PnTXs was very low, making further sampling necessary to fully understand the extent of the phenomenon. Discussions on the need to obtain more data to support a proper risk assessment and the need to implement a monitoring program that includes emerging marine biotoxins are also included.
