Rhodora Azanza , Garry Benico and Romella Berenguela

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The Marine Science InstituteUniversity of the Philippines, Diliman

Recent Harmful Algal Bloom Events in the Philippines

RECENT SHELLFISH BAN DUE TO PYRODINIUM BLOOMS

Two children died after eating shellfish contaminated with red tide in the province of Samar.

In December 6, 2016 , 9 areas have been placed under shellfish ban by BFAR due to detection of PSTs beyond regulatory limit. High cell densities of toxic Pyrodinium cells were documented in these embayments.

Distribution of PSP causing organisms as of 2016

• 1983-2014 = 38 areas• 2015-2016= 3 areas in central

Philippines (Carles, Iloilo, Dauis Bohol and Aklan) as new additions

Declining PSP cases despite increasing number of affected areas

Data source: NFRDI, BFAR, UPMSI

1983‐Samar‐Leyte Epidemics1987‐Manila Bay Epidemics1992‐Various areas2015‐2016‐Samar Leyte Pyrodinium blooms

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No. of  area

s with

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PSP Ca

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TOXIC ALEXANDRIUM BLOOMS IN BOLINAO, NORTWESTERNPHILLIPPINES

6MSI, 2004

In 2002, a PSP case was implicated with Alexandrium minutum in Northwestern Philippines (Bajariaset al. 2003).

• Occurrence was first reported by Bajarias et al (2003) and associated with the PSP case in Bolinao, Pangasinan).

• Reconfirmed the presence of Alexandrium minutum in Bolinao, Pangasinan(Benico 2015)

Alexandrium minutum

Alexandrium cf. pacificum

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• First documented a bloom in Northwestern Philippines and tropical region (Benico et al 2012; Azanza and Benico 2013)

• Morphological and molecular identification confirmend the the presence of Alexandrium cf. pacificum in BolinaoPangasinan (Benico et al 2016)

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• First report in the Bolinao, Pangasinan

• Reported as non -toxic (Montressor et al, 2004), but Bolinaostrain is slightly toxic (Benico 2015)

Alexandrium tamutum

• Morphological identification based on diagnostic thecal plates revealed that Alexandrium minutum Halim as the bloom species in Bataan, western side of Manila Bay .

• Manila Bay which was used to be affected by Pyrodiniumbahamense blooms during Southwest Monsoon , is now by being affected by blooms of Alexandrium minutum which usually starts during November (Northwest Monsoon)

6’’

1’

APC

Sp

2’’’’

CIGUATERA FISH POISONING IN THE PHILIPPINES

51-90

41-50

31-40

21-30

1-20

Navotas,Metro Manila (2001)

Romblon (1998)Masbate

(2008, 2009)

Ilo‐ilo(2006, 2010,2011)

Aklan (2011)

Antique (2001)

Zamboanga del Norte (2014)

Basilan (1989)

CFP cases in the Philippines from 1989-2016

~300 CFP cases Mostly in Central Visayas Earliest in Basilan,

Southern Philippines Highest documented case

in Masbate with 89

In June 2010, 22 individuals experienced Ciguatera Fish poisoning symptoms in Iloilo after eating red snapper locally known as Maya maya “Lutjanus campechanus”

Journal of Environmental Science and management (Special Issue)

• Confirmed by Cigua-check in remnant fish eaten by affected individuals by BFAR

• Mass Spectrometry from blood samples of affected patients confirmed the presence of Ciguatoxins

Ciguatoxin Detection Results (Mendoza et al 2013)

Survey of Ciguatera Causative organisms in Iloilo, Central Philippines

Deployment of Artificial substrate in 9 stations and incubation for 24 hours

Gambierdiscus carpenteri in Carles, Iloilo

• Confirmed the presence of Gambierdiscus carpenteri in Iloilo• Also include presence of Gambierdiscus toxicus in preliminary identification• 7 other BHABs species were identified which include

Ostreopsis spp., Prorocentrum spp. , Coolia spp. etc

In September 16, 2014, 18 individuals experienced Ciguatera Fish poisoning symptoms in Zamboanga City after eating barracuda “Sphyraena sp.”

SymptomsBefore Admission to Hospital

NauseaLoose watery stoolsBody malaiseAbdominal painNumbness of extremities

After admission to the hospital a) Physical examination

Abdominal pain/tendernessWeaknessmoderate dehydration

b) Neurologic examination hypersensitivity reaction to hot/cold

Symptoms experience by patients in Zamboanga City after eating barracuda Sphyraena sp. in Sept

2014

Diagnosed as Ciguatera Fish Poisoning by Dr. Eunice Aujero-Sapasapof Labunan Public Hospital, Zamboanga City

OTHER RECENT HABS ASSOCIATED WITH FISHKILL

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• Dorsoventrally compressed with cell dimension of 20-30 um in length and 24-36 in width.

• Straight linear apical grove and does not have a apical carina, nucleus is ovoid & located at the left hypotheca;

• Bloom of K. mikimotoi at 4.9 x 106 cells/L documented in Feb. 2013 sampling in the fish farming site in Bolinao-Anda coastal waters.

Karenia mikimotoiMiyake & Kominami ex Oda, 1935)

A B

C D

HAGenomics , 2013

Bloom patches taken on March 2013 revealed very high densities of Scrippsiella spp in fish farming sites in Bolinao, Northwestern Philippines

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• Two species of Scrippsiella isolated and identified in during these bloom events i.e Scrippsiella spinifera and Scrippsiella trochoidea

• Bloom of S. spinifera was documented in May 2011 at 2.4 x 105 cells/L (Azanza and Benico2013) while bloom of Scrippsiellatrochoidea was recently documented in Bolinao Pangasinan in April and May 2013 at 2.15x107 cells/L

Scrippsiella Balech ex Loeblich , 1965

HABGenomics, 2013

S. spinifera S. trochoidea

S. spiniferaAPC

Summary and Recommendations• Pyrodinium bahamense remains to be the main

PSP causative organism in the Philippines

• Blooms of Alexandrium cf. pacificum and Alexandrium minutum are new culprits of poisoning cases in Bolinao Northwestern Philippines and Manila Bay

• Confirmed the presence of Gambierdiscus spp. in CFP affected area in Iloilo, Central Philippines.

• Blooms of Prorocentrum minimum, Kareniamikimotoi and Scrippsiella spp. were documented at fish farming sites along the GuiguiwanenChannel in Bolinao, Northwestern, Philippines.

• Studies on small HAB causing dinoflagellates in the Philippines are still scarce.

• More intensified monitoring and research need to conducted in areas where toxic blooms and HAB associated fishkill were documented.

Summary and Recommendations

Acknowledgements• DOST-PCAARD• UPMSI• HABTech and HABGenomic Team• LGUs• Organizers of EastHAB meeting

Thank you!

Nov, 2010

Nov, 2011

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In November 2010, 2011, 2013shellfish ban was imposed in 6coastal towns of Bataan (BFAR)

Nov, 2013