First evidence of MC-HtyR associated to a Plankthothrix rubescens blooming in an Italian lake based on a LC-MS method for routinely analysis of twelve microcystins in freshwaters

The optimized analytical protocol was then applied to the analysis of water samples collected in Occhito Lake (Apulia, Italy), used as a source of drinking water, after an extraordinary bloom of Planktothrix rubescens. In October 2010, the presence of MC-HtyR was detected here with maximum concentration level of 0.025 μg/L. To our knowledge, this is the first report on MC-HtyR presence, obtained with a confirmatory method, associated to a P. rubescens bloom in surface waters.