Researchers gather to discuss future of research

Researchers gather to discuss future of research into toxin killing dogs on Auckland beaches

The country’s largest independent research organisation, Cawthron Institute, has called scientists and researchers from all over New Zealand together to develop strategies for on-going research into the discovery of the deadly tetrodotoxin in Auckland.

Three dogs died after eating slugs infected with the puffer fish toxin at Narrow Neck and Cheltenham beaches, this time last year.

Cawthron CEO Gillian Wratt says while there have been no dog deaths this season, there have been new cases over the past month involving dogs on Torpedo Bay, Narrow Neck and Milford beaches, with potentially toxic slugs also found for the first time at Kohimarama Beach this week.

“The truth of the matter is toxin containing slugs could have been washed up on our beaches for years. But it is only now, that we know the connection with dog deaths, that we are able to match the symptoms to a cause. The question now is what can we do about it.

“While it is great that people are people heeding warning signs and not letting their dogs roam as freely as they once did, we have to remember one of the very reasons people live on the North Shore is so they can go to the beach and let their children and dogs run around.

“But what happens next year when the issue may not be as high in the public conscience. We need to be sure we don’t lose the impetus, that the investigations continue until we truly understand what we are dealing with.”

The workshop is designed to bring researchers together to develop strategies for research over the next two to five years. It is science focused and includes presentations by three eminent scientists from Australia, Albany and the University of Waikato.

Gillian Wratt says Cawthron decided to host the event in a bid “to take the research forward. This is something Cawthron is funding and promoting in our role of providing science for the good of New Zealand.”

She says there are big and scientifically exciting questions that Cawthron and their collaborators are keen to investigate, but to do this will require additional research funding. The Auckland Regional Council is funding some research, but while everyone wants to know the answers, no-one seems able to fund the level of research that is really needed to understand this phenomenon.

“The ocean has thrown up this amazingly toxic slug which somehow, somewhere has developed a mechanism to cope with one of the deadliest toxins in the world. And it is right here on our doorstep. While there is a large amount of evidence that says species take up tetrodotoxin from their food what’s not clear is why it is fatal to some and not others. Why this particular sea slug can handle it where other species can’t. From an evolutionary and a genetic perspective the reason this particular sea slug can handle it where other species can’t remains the big question.

“It is one scientists in Japan have been trying to address for a long time, something like 30-40 years without success. While they’ve made a lot of discoveries, they haven’t managed to crack it. We could – the sea slug is more amenable to research than the Japanese puffer fish or fugu - and wouldn’t that be phenomenal if we did.

ENDS

Biographies:

Prof Brett Neilan is head of the UNSW Cyanobacteria Research Laboratory and deputy director of the Australian Centre for Astrobiology. He is considered the world's leader in the genetics of toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). The results of his basic research and his other work on the evolution of cyanobacteria has revolutionised this research field. He has been awarded the Australian Academy of Science Fenner Medal and the Eureka Prize for Scientific Research on three occasions.

Paul Rainey is professor of evolutionary genetics at the NZ Institute for Advanced Study at Massey University in Albany and a Principle Investigator at the Allan Wilson Centre. He is also visiting Professor at Stanford. In 2007 he was elected a fellow of the NZ royal society. His lab comprises scientists with a range of interests and expertise in evolution, microbial genetics, population biology and ecology.

Craig Cary is a professor in Environmental Biotechnology and associate dean of research at Waikato University. He is also the director of the International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research and a hold an adjunct professorship at the University of Delaware. His research interests include comparative physiology, biochemistry and ecology of microbial communities, with a focus bacterial associations from extreme environments including hydrothermal vents and Antarctic soils.

ENDS

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