Detecting Potential Neurotoxic Pseudo-nitzchia Species in the Grand Strand

Pseudo-nitzschia is a globally distributed diatom genus which contains 26 neurotoxin (domoic-acid) producing species. In shallow coastal waters these diatoms are associated with both the development of harmful algal blooms and the bioaccumulation of toxins in shellfish that can impact human health. Environmental DNA (eDNA) samples drawn from the public shellfish harvesting area at Huntington Beach State Park (SC) during the summer of 2021 were PCR- screened for Pseudo-nitzschia species using genus specific primers. The sequences of the recovered amplicons are used to molecularly characterize the species of Pseudo-nitzschia present and their potential to produce domoic acid