Marine Drugs (Mar 2024)

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

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/md22030122
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 3
p. 122

Abstract

Read online

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.

Keywords