Identification of domoic acid, a neuroexcitatory amino acid, in toxic mussels from eastern Prince Edward Island

Wright, Jeffrey L. C.; Boyd, R. K.; Freitas, Arlan Silva; Falk, Michael; Foxall, R. A.; Jamieson, W. D.; Laycock, M. V.; Mcculloch, A. W.; McInnes, A. G.; Odense, P. H.; Pathak, Vibha; Quilliam, Michael A.; Ragan, Mark A.; Sim, P. G.; Thibault, Pierre; Walter, John A.; Gilgan, M.W.; Richard, D J A; Dewar, Danielle

doi:10.1139/v89-075

Cited by 385 publications

(159 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…epi-DA) are known to be Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) toxins. In humans, DA can cause gastroenteritis and produce neurodegeneration and central nervous system dysfunction, notably loss of short-term memory [3]. Historically, OA and its congeners (OAs) are classed under Diarrheic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) because of the symptoms they cause (gastrointestinal distress, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain) [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Domoic Acid, Okadaic Acid and Spirolides: Inter-Species Variability in Contamination and Cooking Effects

Picot¹,

Limon²,

Durand³

et al. 2012

FPH

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The inter-species variability of contamination by domoic acid (DA), okadaic acid and analogues (OAs) and spirolides (SPX) in mussels, oysters, cockles, carpet shell clams and razor clams was assessed. DA concentrations were measured using both high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with Ultra Violet (UV) detection and HPLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS); OAs and SPX were measured using HPLC-MS/MS. Observations showed that for each phycotoxin, the contamination rates are species-dependent and the most contaminated species differ according to the kind of phycotoxin. For DA and SPX, cockles appear to be the most contaminated species whereas mussels seem to be the predominant vector for OAs. The effect of cooking process on DA concentrations was investigated in five different bivalve species by comparing toxin concentrations in whole raw flesh with concentrations in whole cooked flesh. The DA concentration decreased in cooked cockles and razor clams whereas it increased in cooked mussels, carpet shell clams and donax. Thus the impact of cooking is bivalve species-dependent. For OAs and SPX, the cooking process was studied on mussels and resulted in an increase in the toxin concentration because of their lipophilic nature. These results should be taken into consideration in exposure assessments and in the design of regulatory monitoring programs, as the current banning levels based on raw bivalves may over-or under-protect consumers when shellfish are eaten cooked.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Domoic Acid, Okadaic Acid and Spirolides: Inter-Species Variability in Contamination and Cooking Effects

Picot¹,

Limon²,

Durand³

et al. 2012

FPH

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“…DA was first identified as a public health threat in 1987 (15). Toxin-producing Pseudo-nitzschia spp.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Climatic regulation of the neurotoxin domoic acid

McKibben

Peterson

Wood

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

131

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Domoic acid is a potent neurotoxin produced by certain marine microalgae that can accumulate in the foodweb, posing a health threat to human seafood consumers and wildlife in coastal regions worldwide. Evidence of climatic regulation of domoic acid in shellfish over the past 20 y in the Northern California Current regime is shown. The timing of elevated domoic acid is strongly related to warm phases of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and the Oceanic Niño Index, an indicator of El Niño events. Ocean conditions in the northeast Pacific that are associated with warm phases of these indices, including changes in prevailing currents and advection of anomalously warm water masses onto the continental shelf, are hypothesized to contribute to increases in this toxin. We present an applied domoic acid risk assessment model for the US West Coast based on combined climatic and local variables. Evidence of regional-to basin-scale controls on domoic acid has not previously been presented. Our findings have implications in coastal zones worldwide that are affected by this toxin and are particularly relevant given the increased frequency of anomalously warm ocean conditions.T he Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are recurring patterns of climate variability centered over the northeastern (NE) and equatorial Pacific, respectively, that fluctuate at scales of years (ENSO) to decades (PDO) (1, 2). Distinct, yet also related, these patterns can amplify or dampen each other through atmospheric teleconnection (1, 3). In the NE Pacific, they induce similar spatial patterns of sea surface temperature anomalies during positive (warm) and negative (cool) phases (4). Low-frequency physical variability attributed to the PDO and ENSO modulates large shifts in NE Pacific water temperature, ocean currents, and foodweb dynamics that can persist for months to years (2,5,6). Shifts in NE Pacific plankton communities occur as well (7-12); however, climate impacts on phytoplankton ecology in this region are relatively underexplored, largely due to a lack of phytoplankton data at sufficient scales.Decadal, regional-scale monitoring of domoic acid (DA) in shellfish can be used to investigate climate-scale impacts on phytoplankton ecology. The neurotoxin DA is produced by some species of the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia. It enters secondary trophic levels when suspension feeders such as shellfish and anchovies ingest toxic Pseudo-nitzschia cells. Consumption of these organisms by humans can lead to a serious neurological disorder named Domoic Acid Poisoning (DAP), also termed Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning. DAP symptoms range from gastrointestinal disturbance to seizures, memory loss, or, rarely, death (13,14).DA was first identified as a public health threat in 1987 (15). Toxin-producing Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and DA have since been identified worldwide with the greatest prevalence in, and most deleterious impacts on, productive eastern boundary upwelling systems (16). Laboratory experiments have found multiple ...

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“…The excitatory amino acid, DA, was first discovered to be produced by the pennate diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries, after a human poisoning event that occurred in Prince Edward Island, Canada, in 1997 (Bates et al 1989;Wright et al 1989). Mussels that had accumulated DA by filter feeding large numbers of P. multiseries were consumed by humans, which resulted in neurological disorders including short-term memory loss and disorientation (Bird et al 1988;Wright et al 1989;Todd 1993).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mussels that had accumulated DA by filter feeding large numbers of P. multiseries were consumed by humans, which resulted in neurological disorders including short-term memory loss and disorientation (Bird et al 1988;Wright et al 1989;Todd 1993). Extreme cases of intoxication resulted in the death of several people during that episode (Perl et al 1990).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Domoic acid production near California coastal upwelling zones, June 1998

Trainer

Adams

Bill

et al. 2000

Limnology & Oceanography

179

149

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Sea lion mortalities in central California during May and June 1998 were traced to their ingestion of sardines and anchovies that had accumulated the neurotoxin domoic acid. The detection of toxin in urine, feces, and stomach contents of several sea lions represents the first proven occurrence of domoic acid transfer through the food chain to a marine mammal. The pennate diatoms, Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries and P. australis, were the dominant, toxinproducing phytoplankton constituting algal blooms near Monterey Bay, Half Moon Bay, and Oceano Dunes, areas where sea lions with neurological symptoms stranded. Toxic Pseudo-nitzschia were also found near Morro Bay, Point Conception, Point Arguello, and Santa Barbara, demonstrating that these species were widespread along the central California coast in June 1998. Measurements of domoic acid during three cruises in early June showed the highest cellular toxin levels in P. multiseries near Point Año Nuevo at 6 pg cell Ϫ1 and in P. australis from Morro Bay at 78 pg cell Ϫ1 . Maximum cellular domoic acid levels were observed within 20 km of the coast between 0 and 5 m depth, although toxin was also measured to depths of 40 m. Hydrographic data indicated that the highest toxin levels and greatest numbers of toxic cells were positioned in water masses associated with upwelling zones near coastal headlands. Nutrient levels at these sites were less than those typically measured during periods of active upwelling, due to the 1998 El Niño event. The flow of cells and/or nutrients from coastal headlands into embayments where cells can multiply in a stratified environment is a possible mechanism of bloom development along the central California coast. This coupling of toxic Pseudo-nitzschia growth near upwelling zones with physical processes involved in cell transport will be understood only when long-term measurements are made at several key coastal locations, aiding in our capability to predict domoic-acid producing algal blooms.In May and June 1998, at least 70 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and one northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) were found stranded along the central California coast. This stranding event occurred between 15 May 1 Corresponding author (Vera.L.Trainer@noaa.gov). AcknowledgmentsWe thank the captain and the crew of the RV Ballena, RV Shana Rae, and PB Bluefin for their help during these cruises, at times under strenuous conditions. We acknowledge the following people for their help in providing useful information that directed the locations of the cruises:

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Identification of domoic acid, a neuroexcitatory amino acid, in toxic mussels from eastern Prince Edward Island

Cited by 385 publications

References 27 publications

Domoic Acid, Okadaic Acid and Spirolides: Inter-Species Variability in Contamination and Cooking Effects

Domoic Acid, Okadaic Acid and Spirolides: Inter-Species Variability in Contamination and Cooking Effects

Climatic regulation of the neurotoxin domoic acid

Domoic acid production near California coastal upwelling zones, June 1998

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