Vacuolar myelinopathy: waterbird risk on a southeastern impoundment co-infested with Hydrilla verticillata and Aetokthonos hydrillicola

Haram, Brigette N.; Wilde, Susan B.; Chamberlain, Michael J.; Boyd, Kenneth

doi:10.1007/s10530-020-02282-w

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…All documented AVM cases were recovered on or near man-made water bodies with abundant aquatic vegetation that senesces during the late fall and winter months (3)(4)(5)(6)(7). The abundance of fish and avian prey associated with these aquatic plants attracts overwintering and nesting bald eagles and other birds of prey (8)(9)(10). AVM-afflicted wildlife are prone to injury and become easy prey for predators, as clinical signs of the disease include the severe loss of motor functions (movie S1 shows affected American coots) (2,10).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The abundance of fish and avian prey associated with these aquatic plants attracts overwintering and nesting bald eagles and other birds of prey (8)(9)(10). AVM-afflicted wildlife are prone to injury and become easy prey for predators, as clinical signs of the disease include the severe loss of motor functions (movie S1 shows affected American coots) (2,10). Although neurological impairment is a visual indication of disease, AVM diagnosis relies on histological confirmation of widespread vacuolization of the myelinated axons (intramyelenic edema) in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord (1).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Hunting the eagle killer: A cyanobacterial neurotoxin causes vacuolar myelinopathy

Breinlinger

Phillips

Haram

et al. 2021

Science

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Vacuolar myelinopathy is a fatal neurological disease that was initially discovered during a mysterious mass mortality of bald eagles in Arkansas in the United States. The cause of this wildlife disease has eluded scientists for decades while its occurrence has continued to spread throughout freshwater reservoirs in the southeastern United States. Recent studies have demonstrated that vacuolar myelinopathy is induced by consumption of the epiphytic cyanobacterial species Aetokthonos hydrillicola growing on aquatic vegetation, primarily the invasive Hydrilla verticillata. Here, we describe the identification, biosynthetic gene cluster, and biological activity of aetokthonotoxin, a pentabrominated biindole alkaloid that is produced by the cyanobacterium A. hydrillicola. We identify this cyanobacterial neurotoxin as the causal agent of vacuolar myelinopathy and discuss environmental factors—especially bromide availability—that promote toxin production.

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Hunting the eagle killer: A cyanobacterial neurotoxin causes vacuolar myelinopathy

Breinlinger

Phillips

Haram

et al. 2021

Science

Self Cite

123

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“…[10,11]; however, the recovery processes in terms of timing and aquatic community composition are less understood and documented. Anthropogenic problems are often followed by manmade solutions, which can have positive effects but also bring about novel consequences as well [12,13]. The other option is to protect sites and allow recovery to take place naturally.…”

Section: Nutrients and The Clean Water Actmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Diatom Community Dynamics in a Recovering Agricultural Stream in Middle Georgia, USA

Brown

Manoylov

2023

Phycology

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Streams play vital roles in surrounding communities and provide essential ecosystem services. The protection of streams is important, they are legally protected under the Clean Water Act, and they can be monitored through the continuous analyses of biological data, such as algal or other aquatic communities. The goals of this study were to analyze the long-term recovery of Tobler Creek, a recovering agricultural stream on the site of a National Historic Landmark, and yield comparisons to a local low-impact stream, Murder Creek, located within the Oconee National Forest. In 2011, Tobler Creek exceeded reference criteria values for total phosphorus (TP) but met the nitrate nitrogen criteria. With an 11-year recovery period, Tobler Creek met both nutrient reference criteria. In 2022, periphyton samples were collected according to standard protocols, confirming that diatoms are the dominant algal group in the community. With recovery, Tobler Creek showed an increase in diatom species richness (χ2 = 116.11, df = 5, p < 0.01) but this was significantly lower than the values documented in Murder Creek. The multi-metric index (MMI), calculated using diatom community analysis to estimate ecological health, indicated that Tobler Creek experienced degradation from 2011 to 2022 (χ2 = 55.97, df = 5, p < 0.05) and is below the regional 25th percentile. The percentage of sediment-tolerant taxa (surirelloid, naviculoid, and nitzschoid) was significantly higher in Tobler Creek in 2022 (χ2 = 500.96, df = 5, p < 0.01) compared to Murder Creek in 2022 (t = −4.67, df = 10, p < 0.01). Despite a reduction in nutrients given the 42-year recovery period, the diatom community in Tobler Creek was significantly different than other regional protected streams. Ecological degradation of the habitat was likely driven by sedimentation due to run-off in the recovering agriculture stream. These findings highlight the importance of protecting water quality, as the recovery of nutrients can be a decades-long process overlayed with many potentially new stressors influencing aquatic organisms.

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Phycotoxins

Beasley¹,

Carmichael²,

Haschek³

et al. 2023

Haschek and Rousseaux's Handbook of Toxicologic Pathology, Volume 3

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Vacuolar myelinopathy: waterbird risk on a southeastern impoundment co-infested with Hydrilla verticillata and Aetokthonos hydrillicola

Cited by 3 publications

References 25 publications

Hunting the eagle killer: A cyanobacterial neurotoxin causes vacuolar myelinopathy

Hunting the eagle killer: A cyanobacterial neurotoxin causes vacuolar myelinopathy

Assessing Diatom Community Dynamics in a Recovering Agricultural Stream in Middle Georgia, USA

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