New markers for qPCR detection of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella in Chile

Alexandrium catenella (Whedon & Kofoid) is a dinoflagellate known as a primary source of paralytic shellfish poisoning in Chile. The distribution range of harmful algal blooms generated by this species has extended during the last decades, and the frequency of these events has increased. In this work, we developed TaqMan markers from Chilean strains that can be used to identify and quantify through qPCR, which can be implemented in monitoring programs for the early detection of this species.