Very little research on the human health effects of Pfiesteria toxins has been conducted.

Since June 1997, the Maryland Department of Health and Hygiene has been collecting data from Maryland physicians through a state-wide surveillance system on illnesses suspected of being caused by Pfiesteria toxin.

Pfiesteria is a genus of heterotrophic dinoflagellates that has been associated with harmful algal blooms and fish kills.

New molecular detection methods have revealed that Pfiesteria has a worldwide distribution.

), which has a complex life cycle and the species Pfiesteria shumwayae, also with a complex life cycle.

* Life cycle: Early research suggested a complex lifecycle of Pfiesteria piscicida, which has become controversial over the past few years due to conflicting research results, especially regarding the question whether toxic amoeboid forms exist or not.

* Toxicity: The hypothesis of Pfiesteria killing fish via releasing a toxin in the water has been questioned as no toxin could be isolated and no toxicity was observed in some experiments.

However, it has also been established that Pfiesteria shumwayae kills fish by feeding on their skin through micropredation.

The dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida is present in the river, and has a bloom in growth when nutrient levels are increased due to too much runoff.

Pseudopfiesteria shumwayae has been described as having a less complex life cycle than Pfiesteria piscicida.

Pfiesteria piscicida is a dinoflagellate species of the genus Pfiesteria that some researchers claim is responsible for many harmful algal blooms in the 1980s and 1990s on the coast of North Carolina and Maryland.

Pfiesteria toxins have been blamed for causing adverse health effects in people who have come in close contact with waters where this organism is abundant.

The type locality of Pfiesteria piscicida is Pamlico River Estuary, North Carolina, U. S. A.

The controversy about the risk of Pfiesteria exposure to human health is still ongoing.

Some colorless dinoflagellates may also form toxic blooms, such as Pfiesteria.

Early research suggested a very complex life cycle of Pfiesteria piscicida with up to 24 different stages, spanning from cyst to several amoeboid forms with toxic zoospores.

Pfiesteria presumably kills fish via releasing a toxin into the water to paralyze its prey.

Researchers from the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the College of Charleston ( S. C .) have formally isolated and characterized the toxin in the estuarine dinoflagellete Pfiesteria piscicida as a metal complex and free radical toxin and also have identified how the organism transforms from a non-toxic to toxic state.

At a multi-state workshop at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) in Atlanta, U. S., at the end of September 1997, attendees agreed on clinical symptoms that characterize the adverse health consequences of exposure to Pfiesteria toxins.

As of late October 1997, illness was reported by 146 persons who had been exposed to diseased fish or to waters that were the site of suspected Pfiesteria activity.

Pfiesteria complex organisms ( PCOs ) were claimed to be responsible for large fish kills in the 1980s and 1990s on the coast of North Carolina and in tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.

In reaction to the toxic outbreaks, six states along the US east coast have initiated a monitoring program to allow for rapid response in the case of new outbreaks and to better understand the factors involved in Pfiesteria toxicity and outbreaks.

Pfiesteria was discovered in 1988 by North Carolina State University researchers JoAnn Burkholder and Ed Noga.

There are two species described, Pfiesteria piscicida ( from Latin Pisces, fish ; cida, killer.

Early research resulted in the hypothesis that Pfiesteria acts as an " ambush predator " and utilizes a " hit and run " feeding strategy by releasing a toxin that paralyzes the respiratory systems of susceptible fish, such as menhaden, thus causing death by suffocation.

Pfiesteria biology and the role of PCOs in killing fish and causing health issues in humans have been subject to several controversies and conflicting research results over the last few years.

Almost febrile in intensity, the principle has become worldwide in application -- unfortunately at the very time that nationalist fervors can wreak greatest harm.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, religious head of the Church of England, has no formal authority outside that jurisdiction, but is recognised as symbolic head of the worldwide communion.

The family has a worldwide distribution, and is most common in the arid and semi-arid regions of subtropical and lower temperate latitudes.

AES has been adopted by the U. S. government and is now used worldwide.

The haliotid family has a worldwide distribution, along the coastal waters of every continent, except the Atlantic coast of South America, the Caribbean, and the East Coast of the United States.

The latter has not been out of print since it was first published and has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

It may be the case that increased worldwide communication through radio, television, the Internet and globalization has reduced the tendency to regional variation.

Since 1867 he has convened more or less decennial meetings of worldwide Anglican bishops, the Lambeth Conferences.

In the last two of these functions he has an important ecumenical and interfaith role, speaking on behalf of Anglicans in England and worldwide.

Aston Martin has also boosted its worldwide appeal by opening more dealers in Europe, as well as branches in China for the first time in its 93 year history in Beijing and Shanghai.

Aon has approximately 600 offices worldwide, serving 120 countries with 61, 000 employees.

The correctness of Varro's calculation has not been proven scientifically but is still used worldwide.

ACM also sponsors other computer science related events such as the worldwide ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest ( ICPC ), and has sponsored some other events such as the chess match between Garry Kasparov and the IBM Deep Blue computer.

Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line ( TEL ), Trans-Asia-Europe Fibre-Optic Line ( TAE ) and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line ( TSL ); three fibre-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine ; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this infrastructure ; additional analogue lines to Russia ; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations

Andersson's next project was Mamma Mia !, a musical built around 24 of ABBA's songs, which has become a worldwide box-office blockbuster with versions in several languages currently being played in many countries, including the UK ( West End premiere in April 1999 ), Canada ( Toronto premiere in 2000 ), the USA ( Broadway premiere in 2001 ), and Sweden ( Swedish language premiere in 2005 ).

Since then the format has become a worldwide TV franchise, airing in many countries in varying adaptations.

He has sold over 100 million records worldwide.

It was this edition which was to be the official Book of Common Prayer, during the growth of the British Empire, and, as a result, has been a great influence on the prayer books of Anglican churches worldwide, liturgies of other denominations in English, and of the English language as a whole.

In The United Kingdom, Oxford University has led in providing extensive research in the field through its Community Development Journal, used worldwide by sociologists and community development practitioners.

The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has established congregations ( called wards or branches ) and built temples worldwide.

With over 55, 000 missionaries worldwide, the church currently has a membership of over 14. 4 million and is ranked by the National Council of Churches as the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States.

Much organic carbon retained in many agricultural areas worldwide has been severely depleted due to intensive farming practices.

DisplaySearch has reported that although in the 4Q of 2007 LCDs surpassed CRTs in worldwide sales, CRTs then outsold LCDs in the 1Q of 2008.

Headquartered in Boston, the church has a worldwide membership of about 85, 000.