NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Marine Biotoxins Program, 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, Seattle, WA 98112, United States.
Toxicon. 2010 Aug 15;56(2):218-30. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.05.034. Epub 2009 Jun 6.
Domoic acid is a potent neurotoxin that is naturally produced by several diatom species of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia. The toxin acts as a glutamate agonist and is excitotoxic in the vertebrate central nervous system and other glutamate receptor-rich organs. Human exposure to domoic acid occurs via the consumption of contaminated shellfish that have accumulated the toxin while filter feeding on toxigenic phytoplankton during blooms. The first reported human domoic acid poisoning event occurred in Canada in 1987 during which clinical signs of acute toxicity such as gastrointestinal distress, confusion, disorientation, memory loss, coma and death were observed. The illness was named amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) and due to effective seafood monitoring programs there have been no documented ASP cases since 1987. However, domoic acid poisoning has a significant effect on marine wildlife and multiple poisoning events have occurred in marine birds and mammals over the last few decades. Currently, domoic acid producing diatom blooms are thought to be increasing in frequency world wide, posing an increasing threat to wildlife and human health. Of particular concern are the potential impacts of long-term low-level exposure in "at risk" human populations. The impacts of repetitive low-level domoic acid exposure are currently unknown. This review provides a basic description of the mechanism of action of domoic acid as well as a synthesis of information pertaining to domoic acid exposure routes, toxin susceptibility, and the importance of effective monitoring programs. The importance of investigating the potential human health impacts of long-term low-level domoic acid exposure in "at risk" human populations is also discussed.
软骨藻酸是一种强效神经毒素，由菱形藻属的几种硅藻天然产生。该毒素作为一种谷氨酸激动剂，在脊椎动物中枢神经系统和其他谷氨酸受体丰富的器官中具有兴奋毒性。人类通过食用在藻类大量繁殖期间滤食并积累毒素的贝类而接触软骨藻酸。1987 年，加拿大首次报告了人类软骨藻酸中毒事件，在此期间观察到了急性毒性的临床症状，如胃肠道不适、意识混乱、定向障碍、记忆丧失、昏迷和死亡。这种疾病被命名为健忘性贝类中毒（ASP），由于有效的海鲜监测计划，自 1987 年以来，没有记录到 ASP 病例。然而，软骨藻酸中毒对海洋野生动物有重大影响，在过去几十年中，海洋鸟类和哺乳动物发生了多次中毒事件。目前，软骨藻酸产生的硅藻大量繁殖被认为在全球范围内越来越频繁，对野生动物和人类健康构成越来越大的威胁。特别令人关注的是“高危”人群中长期低水平暴露的潜在影响。目前还不清楚重复性低水平软骨藻酸暴露的影响。本综述提供了软骨藻酸作用机制的基本描述，以及与软骨藻酸暴露途径、毒素易感性和有效监测计划重要性相关信息的综合。还讨论了调查“高危”人群中长期低水平软骨藻酸暴露对潜在人类健康影响的重要性。
