Episode 96: Cyanobacteria, Anatoxin and the Hidden Risks of River Biofilms

This week on The Tox Lab, we're diving into the world of cyanobacteria, exploring the toxins they can produce and the risks they pose to animals and the wider environment.

We clear up the naming myth behind “blue-green algae”, look at the different cyanotoxins and discuss why dogs can be particularly vulnerable to poisoning.

We then explore a case involving three dogs affected by cyanobacterial poisoning, where analytical toxicology played a key role in identifying the toxin involved.

Finally, we look at research investigating cyanobacterial biofilms and anatoxin production in a French river, and what this tells us about the changing risks these organisms can pose.

Join us as we explore cyanobacteria, anatoxin poisoning and the toxicology behind these potentially fatal environmental exposures.

Hope you enjoy!

Links to the papers we discussed:

https://www.cdc.gov/harmful-algal-blooms/hcp/clinical-signs/symptoms-freshwater-harmful-algal-blooms.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041010123000727?via%3Dihub

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/10/10/418

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

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