Amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) is a rare foodborne illness caused by domoic acid, secreted by diatoms. Symptoms include memory loss, gastrointestinal discomfort, and neurological problems. ASP can cause brain damage and death. Domoic acid can be present in other seafood and can affect seabirds and marine mammals. It is advisable to avoid seafood during algal bloom periods.
Amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) is a very rare form of foodborne illness caused by a toxin called domoic acid that is secreted by diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia. This condition is also known as domoic acid poisoning (DAP), in reference to the toxin that causes it. ASP was first observed in 1987 and a handful of cases have been observed since then worldwide; the condition also appears to be on the rise due to the growing number of harmful algae in the ocean.
This condition is called amnesic shellfish poisoning because memory loss and other neurological symptoms are very common. When someone is afflicted with this condition, they typically experience gastrointestinal discomfort including vomiting, cramping, and diarrhea within 24 hours. If the patient has ingested enough domoic acid or the body is particularly vulnerable, neurological symptoms such as headache, dizziness, coordination difficulties and short-term memory loss will emerge within three days.
Long-term, amnesic shellfish poisoning can cause brain damage, and sometimes even death, in elderly patients or patients with impaired kidney function. Because there is no known antidote to domoic acid, treatment focuses on providing supportive care to the patient to make sure they are comfortable. Supportive care may also include long-term measures such as physical therapy to address persistent neurological problems.
While domoic acid can reach particularly high levels in shellfish, because they are filter feeders, it can also be present in other seafood and sometimes jumps up the food chain for seabirds as well. This means that during a period of algal bloom, when harmful diatoms and dinoflagellates can also proliferate, it is generally advisable to avoid all seafood until the area has been certified safe. If consumers buy seafood and someone becomes ill, the leftovers should be discarded, because domoic acid cannot be eliminated through freezing or cooking. Because seafood is often shipped great distances, recall announcements are worth paying attention to.
Some researchers have suggested that shorebirds affected by DAP may go insane; the 1961 bird invasion in Santa Cruz, California, which particularly inspired Alfred Hitchcock, for example, may have been caused by PDO. Marine mammals can also be affected by amnesic shellfish poisoning, with increasing rates of problems in shorebirds and marine mammals, suggesting that domoic acid-producing diatoms are becoming more abundant. Amnesic shellfish poisoning can cause animals and birds to become extremely confused, leading to strandings, starvation, drowning, and other unusual occurrences.
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