Using of Daphnia pulex, Artemia salina and Tubifex tubifex for cyanobacterial microcystins toxicity detection

Four water samples from the Czech Republic and one sample from Slovakia con taining cyanobacteria Microcystis wesenbergii, M. aeruginosa, Anabaena flos -aquae and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae were tested for microcystins. The conte nt of total microcystins and microcystin-LR were analysed before testing by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The need for more ethical a nd economic assays is increasing in this days. We used the acute toxicity t ests (microbiotests) with two typical zooplankton crustacean species: Artem ia salina and Daphnia pulex, and one typical zoobenthic species: Tubifex tu bilex. Immobilization of D. pulex and mortality of A. salina and T. tubifex were determined with microcystin-containing and microcystin-no-containing cyanobacterial extracts. Extraction and fractionation by C-18 cartridges of test samples were undertaken to select and isolate microcystin-containing fractions and to reduce interference from other fractions (pigments, carboh ydrates, lipids etc.). The high correlation was found between toxic respons e of all species and the crude extract, and the fraction without toxins. Th ere was not significant correlation between the species and the fraction wi thout toxins. The sensitivity of species decreased in the following order: Daphnia pulex, Artemia salina, Tubifex tubifex. The study also showed that fractionation of the crude extract of cyanobacterial biomass can distinguis h toxic effects microcystins proper from those of other toxic compounds pre sent in the crude extract.