DOMOIC ACID, SEA LIONS - USA: (CALIFORNIA)
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Date: Mon 11 Apr 2011
Source: Los Angeles Times [edited]
<http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/spring-algae-bloom-brings-sick-sea-lions-to-shore.html>
Spring algae bloom forces sick sea lions to shore
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Rescuers said Monday [11 Apr 2011] that 7 ailing sea lions rescued from Santa Monica Bay appeared sicker from seasonal algae-related poisoning than in past years, The mammals are washing up suffering grand mal seizures, paralysis, and foaming from the mouth, said Peter Wallerstein, who supervised the rescues. Wallerstein said they are suffering from domoic acid poisoning, a neurotoxin produced in large algae blooms off the coast. "This seems to be a very potent bloom,''
he said.
Domoic acid is a naturally occurring biotoxin found in algae blooms off California's coast and is caused in part from pollutants, such as fertilizers and industrial waste that wash out to sea. Ocean temperatures and changing currents also are believed to play a role, Wallerstein said.
Marine Animal Rescue has removed 34 sea lions in the last 10 days from beaches in Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties, he said.
Sickened dolphins and pelicans also are being found, he said. The group has been able to rehabilitate about half of the stricken animals, Wallerstein said.
The public should stay away from any mammals that wash ashore because they are disoriented and may bite, Wallerstein said. The public should notify a lifeguard or call (800) 39-WHALE to report a sick animal, he said. "A lot of people want to put their children near these animals for a photo opportunity,'' Wallerstein said, "but they should just stay away" from them.
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[Domoic acid, an acidic cyanotoxin, a neurotoxic tricarboxylic amino acid structurally related to kainic and glutamic acids, associated with certain algal blooms and possibly produced by the diatom _Pseudonitzschia_ is also called amnesic shellfish poison (ASP).
Domoic acid was named for the seaweed from which it was discovered, _Chondria armata_, called 'domoi' in Japan. The toxic acid is accumulated by marine organisms (including sea lions) feeding on phytoplankton, anchovies, sardines, and shellfish. Domoic acid is essentially a neurotoxin in mammals causing brain damage, neurological dysfunction, and death in severe cases.
In 1987, several people died and more than 100 became ill after eating blue mussels caught off Prince Edward Island, Canada. It was determined by Canadian scientists that domoic acid had entered the food chain when the mussels fed on a toxic algae bloom of the pennate diatom _Pseudonitzschia pungens_ forma _multiseries_.
In 1991, in Monterey Bay, California, a bloom of _Pseudonitzschia australis_ also produced domoic acid that was then concentrated in anchovies feeding upon it. The deaths of pelicans and cormorants that ate the anchovies were reported to be related to their exposure to domoic acid.
Transient elevations of plasma BUN (blood urea nitrogen) levels, as well as neurodegeneration of the hippocampus, and memory deficits have been associated with near-lethal domoic acid exposures.
References
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1. Perl TM, et al: An outbreak of toxic encephalopathy caused by eating mussels contaminated with domoic acid. N Engl J Med 1990;
322(25): 1775-80 (available at
<http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199006213222504#t=article>).
2. Garrison DL, et al: Confirmation of domoic acid production by _Pseudonitzschia australis_ (bacillariophyceae) cultures. J Phycol 1992; 28(5): 604-7 (abstract available at <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.0022-3646.1992.00604.x/abstract>).
3. Scallet AC, et al: Domoic acid-treated cynomolgus monkeys (_M.
fascicularis_): effects of dose on hippocampal neuronal and terminal degeneration. Brain Res 1993; 627(2): 307-13 (abstract available at <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8298975>).
The state of California can be seen on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at <http://healthmap.org/r/0Gim>. Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties in southern California can be seen on the map at <http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/county-map/california.shtml>. - Mod.TG]
[see also:
Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (CA): domoic acid susp.
20110313.0814
2010
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Domoic acid, sea lion deaths - USA: (CA) 20100620.2064
2007
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Domoic acid, animal deaths - USA (CA) 20070428.1384
2005
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Sea lions, domoic acid - USA (CA) 20050616.1692
2004
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Dolphin die-off - USA (FL) (04): domoic acid 20040617.1615 Otter deaths, domoic acid - (CA): not (06) 20040615.1607 Otter deaths, domoic acid - USA (CA): not (05) 20040528.1450 Otter deaths, domoic acid - USA (CA): not (04) 20040526.1425 Otter deaths, domoic acid - USA (CA): not (03) 20040525.1397 Otter deaths, domoic acid - USA (CA): not 20040523.1382 Otter deaths, domoic acid - USA (CA): susp. 20040417.1071 Dolphin die-off - USA (FL)(03): Domoic acid 20040323.0806
2003
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Whale die-off, domoic acid - USA (East Coast): susp. 20031028.2684 Dolphin, sea lion die-off, domoic acid - USA (CA) 20030604.1363 Domoic acid, razor clams - USA (OREGON) 20030508.1142
2002
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Flying squid, domoic acid - USA (California) 20021209.6025 Mammal, bird die-off, domoic acid - USA (CA) 20020708.4702 Mammal, bird die-off, domoic acid - USA (CA) 20020526.4323 Dolphin/sea lion die-off, domoic acid - USA (CA) (02) 20020426.4035 Dolphin/sea lion die-off, domoic acid - USA (CA) 20020422.4011 Shellfish ban, domoic acid - Canada (NB) 20020422.4010 Domoic acid, razor clams - USA (Washington) 20020405.3886 Dolphin die-off, domoic acid - USA (Calif.) (02) 20020331.3846 Dolphin die-off, domoic acid? - USA (California) 20020325.3817 2000
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Sea lions, seizures, domoic acid - USA (Calif.) 1998 20000107.0018
1996
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Domoic acid 19960209.0275]
.................................................sb/tg/mj/lm/ll
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