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Domoic acid Date: 25 Apr 2002
From: Richard H Evans, DVM, MS <snaver@cox.net> [edited]With reference to the 22 Apr 2002 ProMED-mail posting (20020422.4011) from the Orange County Register, I would submit the following details:
As stated in my previous posting, this outbreak started in earnest on 17--22 Mar 2002, when we received 2 adult male common dolphins with severe neurological disease. Characteristic histopathological lesions in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus of the brains of these animals and high levels of domoic acid in their urine confirmed the diagnosis of intoxication by domoic acid. This is the first documented occurrence of domoic acid intoxication in the common dolphin in the Pacific.
Between 22 Mar 2002 and today, FSL Marine Mammal Center has admitted 40 California sea lions (all females) and one common dolphin with neurological signs consistent with domoic acid intoxication. Over 90 per cent of the females are pregnant, and 40 per cent have aborted following stranding or since admission.
Clinically, animals exhibit moderate to severe episodic seizures or are obtunded. Though half have died or were euthanized, it is expected that the mortality rate will approach 80 per cent or even higher. Complete necropsies have been completed on all mortalities. Tissues are being examined histopathologically for characteristic lesions and urine/feces are being assayed for domoic acid.
In 2 sea lions, domoic acid intoxication has been confirmed by high urinary levels and characteristic histopathological lesions in the central nervous system, while another 3 have histopathological lesions but confirmation of domoic acid in urine/feces is awaited.
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Richard H Evans, DVM, MS
Medical Director/Pathologist
FSL Marine Mammal Center
20612 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
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