Brevetoxin — an elusive toxin in New Zealand waters

Abstract

Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) was used to test 34 microalgal isolates, all known or reported to be brevetoxin producers. Only Karenia brevis strains, imported from the USA, produced brevetoxin. In contrast, all isolates cultured in New Zealand proved non-toxic by LCMS testing, down to very low levels (0.003pg cell–1).