Domoic acid toxicologic pathology: a review.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of toxicologic pathology and mechanisms with no new empirical data
PubMed 18728725 · doi:10.3390/md20080010
What was done
Narrative review evaluating the toxicologic pathology of domoic acid, the marine biotoxin responsible for Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP). The paper reviews clinical features from the 1987 Canadian outbreak, ultrastructural pathology associated with subchronic oral exposure, mechanisms of cellular and tissue injury mediated by glutamate receptors, and implications for human food safety and wildlife health.
What was found
The abstract provides no quantitative data, exposure thresholds, or numerical estimates. It qualitatively outlines that domoic acid (produced by organisms such as Pseudo-nitzschia and Chondria armata) mediates neurotoxicity and memory impairment via excitatory glutamate receptors, noting that the presence of these receptors outside the central nervous system makes other tissues potential targets for toxicity.
Why it matters
Synthesizes the pathological and excitotoxic mechanisms of domoic acid to guide food safety standards, environmental monitoring, and the assessment of ongoing risks to humans and marine wildlife.
Limits
As a narrative review, it presents no original empirical data or systematic search methodology. The abstract provides no quantitative exposure-response metrics, sample sizes from reviewed studies, or comparative risk values.
Cited by
- supports Domoic acid is an excitotoxin produced by algae that accumulates in shellfish during red tide conditions and causes amnesia in humans who ingest it.