ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the chemical characteristics, occurrence, toxicokinetics, and mechanism of action of Domoic Acid (DA) as well as the epidemiological data, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). DA was first isolated in Southern Japan from the macro red algae Chondria armata. DA is a water-soluble, polar, amino acid with a molecular weight of 311 Da belonging to the kainoid class of compounds. DA structurally resembles an important neurotransmitter, the excitatory amino acid glutamate. DA has an amino group and three carboxyl groups, which have distinct dissociation constants. The mechanism of DA toxicity is explained by its structural similarity to the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, the glutamic acid. DA is a potent neurotoxin causing ASP in humans. Symptoms of ASP are dose dependent and range from mild gastrointestinal disturbance to severe neurological symptoms, coma, and death.
