Highly sensitive chemiluminescence flow-injection detection of the red tide phytoplankton Heterosigma carterae Original Research Article

Two chemiluminescent flow-injection analysis systems for the detection of the red tide Phytoplankton Heterosigma carterae (formerly known as Heterosigma akashiwo) have been developed. In one system, the superoxide (O−2) released by H. carterae reacts with 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]-pyrazin-3-one (MCLA), a superoxide specific probe. In the other system, the hydrogen peroxide released by H. carterae reacts with luminol catalyzed by Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase (ARP). The chemiluminescence is detected by a photomultiplier tube. This system is capable of the rapid determination of H. carterae; the time required for one measurement cycle is ca. 2 min using MCLA-dependant luminescence or 1 min in luminol/ARP luminescence. A linear response was observed from 102 to 105 cells ml−1 H. carterae. Several other species of phytoplankton gave no response using this system. The detection limit of this method is suitable for detecting H. carterae in the early stage of red tide formation.