STUDIES ON THE ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION OF PALYTOXIN IN A CARIBBEAN CORAL-REEF

In coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea (Colombia) palytoxin (PTX) has bee n detected in zoanthid species of the genera Palythoa and Zoanthus by assaying the delayed haemolysis in human erythrocytes produced by aque ous extracts, which is inhibited by ouabain pretreatment, and by HPLC. The toxin content of the polyps and colonies is highly variable and i s not correlated with their reproductive cycle or with the amount of s ymbiotic algae. Sequestration of PTX has been observed in crustaceans (Platypodiella sp.) living in close association with Palythoa colonies and in polychaete worms (Hermodice carunculata) feeding on the zoanth ids. Resistance of marine animals to the toxin may enable it to enter food chains.