Mortality of dogs associated with a bloom of the cyanobacterium<i>Nodularia spumigena</i>in the Baltic Sea

Abstract

Abstract During the normal summer bloom of Nodularia spumigena in August 1982, nine dogs died after having been in contact with the sea water along the Swedish coast of the Baltic Sea. Within one day after exposure the dogs showed the first symptoms and from one to fifteen days after exposure the dogs died, or were sacrificed. In seven out of nine cases the dogs developed jaundice, dehydration and uremia. Toxicity test of Nodularia spumigena revealed 40 lethal mouse units per gram freeze-dried algal biomass.