Distribution of toxigenic cyanobacteria in water bodies of the East European Plain

We analyze the distribution of potentially toxigenic cyanobacteria in water bodies and rivers of the East European (Russian) Plain on the basis of relevant literature and the results of our studies. Special attention is paid to cyanotoxins: microcystins, which are hepatotoxins, cylindrospermopsin, which is hepatotoxin and cytotoxin, and anatoxins and saxi-toxins, which are neurotoxins. Microcystis and Dolichospermum are the most represented genera of potentially toxigenic cyanobacteria, as well as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Ralfs ex Bornet & Flahault and Planktothrix agardhii (Gomont) Anagnostidis & Komárek species. The above are the most commonly found in water bodies of the study area. The presence of potentially toxigenic cyanobacteria in water bodies was confirmed by the results of phytoplankton studies using molecular genetic methods. The quantitative content of the dissolved in water and intracellular cyanotoxins was determined using enzyme immunoassay methods, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry. It was noted that microcystin- and anatoxin-a-producing cyanobacteria are the most common in most of the studied water bodies and streams, while saxitoxin- and cylindrospermopsin-producing cyanobacteria are less common. The total content of the dissolved microcystins in different water bodies varies from trace amounts up to 1670 μg/L with SanPiN 1.2.3685-21 standard for microcystin-LR 1 μg/L. The maximum recorded anatoxin-a content was 0.600 μg/L. The preparation of this review made it possible to supplement and summarize information on the distribution of toxigenic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in rivers, lakes and reservoirs of temperate latitudes, as well as on the quantitative content of cyanotoxins in water.