A comparison of methods for diarrhoeic shellfish poison detection.

Samples of diarrhoeic shellfish poison (DSP) mussels from several parts of the Italian Adriatic coastline were extracted and tested according to a number of different methods presently available, i.e. Yasumoto's mouse biotest, Kat's biotest, the ELISA test and the HPLC method.

Anatoxin-A and a previously unknown toxin in Anabaena planctonica from blooms found in Lake Mulargia (Italy).

Algal extracts of Anabaena planctonica from Lake Mulargia in Italy were tested for toxins by mouse bioassay, the Microtox system, and GC-MS and HPLC chromatography. Anatoxin-a was identified by GC-MS after derivatization with pentafluorobenzyl bromide. Hepatotoxins were also present and are perhaps related to the microcystins present in other species of Anabaena.