Toxicity Assay of Cyanobacterial Strains Using Artemia salina in Comparison with the Mouse Bioassay

Cyanobacterial samples were collected from aquaculture ponds and reservoirs in Taiwan in 1989-1994. Strains belonging to Microcystis and Coelosphaerium were isolated and maintained in laboratory cultures. Brine shrimp, Artemia salina, toxicity assay was applied and compared with the mouse bioassay for screening toxic strains among these cyanobacterial isolates in this study. We found that M.TY-1, M.TY-2, M.CY-1, M.TN-2, M.TN-3, and M.TN-4 strains of Microcystis aeruginosa were toxic in both assay methods. The same conclusion was also reached by HPLC analysis of known microcystins in the extract of different cyanobacterial strains. Also our data showed that the Artemia bioassay required more time than the mouse bioassay for detecting toxicity of microcystins, and the Artemia bioassay was less sensitive than the mouse bioassay at observation intervals shorter than 24 h. However, in view of its convenience and low expense, the Artemia bioassay still can be a reliable method for detecting toxicity of microcystins contained in toxic cyanobacterial strains.