Pfiesteria piscicida

Monster or merely misunderstood

By: Erica Hudson

Discovery

Pfiesteria piscicida was first discovered at North Carolina State University where it was blamed for a large fish kill in 1988 (Miller and Belas 2003).

‘Pfiesteria hysteria’, which reached a peak in 1997 (Miller and Belas 2003).

Because of all of this public attention more funding was allotted to research and many interesting things have been discovered about Pfiesteria piscicida and other dinoflagellates.

Pfiesteria piscicida

Phagotrophic dinoflagellates that use a feeding tube to prey upon phytoplankton

JoAnn Burkholder proposed a life history of 19 stages

Recent research proposes a simpler life history

Toxicity

So far the toxin remains unknown Effects on humans include:

significantly lowers learning and higher cognitive functions, skin lesions, dizziness, headaches, and short term amnesia.

All symptoms disappeared after 3-6 months of no exposure.

How can blooms be prevented?

Planktonic ciliates like Strombidium prey upon the P. piscicida zoospores and are able to keep the population in check even at low numbers.

Treating nutrient rich waste run-off before it reaches the ocean

References

Fogg, G.E. “Harmful Algae – A Perspective.” Harmful Algae. 1 (2002) p 1-4. Gordon, A.S. et al. “Comparative toxicity of Pfiesteria spp., prolonging a toxicity of P.

piscisida in culture and evaluation of toxin(s) stability.” Harmful Algae. 1 (2002) p 85-94

Grattan, Lynn M. et al. “Learning and memory difficulties after environmental exposure to waterways containing toxin-producing Pfiesteria or Pfiesteria-like dinoflagellates.” The Lancet. 352 (1998) p 532-539.

Levin, E.D. et al. “Rapid neurobehavioral analysis of Pfiesteria piscicida effects in juvenile and adult rats.” Neurotoxicology and Teratology. 22 (2001) p533-540.

Levin, E.D. et al. “Learning impairment caused by a toxin produced by Pfiesteria piscicida infused into the hippocampus of rats.” Neurotoxicolgoy and Teratology. 25 (2003) p 419-426.

Litaker, R.W. et al. “Lifecycle of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida (Dinophyceae),” Journal of Phycology. 38 (2002) p 442-463.

Miller, Todd R. and Belas, Robert. “Pfiesteria piscicida, P. shumwayae and other Pfiesteria-like dinoflagellates.” Research in Microbiology. 154 (2003) p 85-90.

Rezvani, Amir H. et al. “Specificity of cognitive impairment from Pfiesteria piscicida exposure in rats attention and visual function versus behavioral plasticity.” Nuerotoxicology and Teratology. 23 (2001) p 609-616.

Setala, Outi. et al. “Predator-prey interactions between a planktonic ciliate Strombidium (Ciliophora, Oligotrichida) and the dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida (Dinamoebailes, Pyrrophyta).” Harmful Algae. 4 (2005) p 235-247.

Swinker, Marian. et al. “Human Health effects of exposure to Pfiesteria piscicida: a review.” Microbes and Infection. 4 (2002) p 751-762.