Defining Domoic Acid Epileptic Disease Project Status: This
project began in January, 2009 and is projected to be completed
in December, 2013 Domoic acid epileptic disease, a central
nervous system disorder caused by the algae toxin domoic acid
(DA), first showed up in humans in a 1987 amnesic shellfish
poisoning in Quebec, Canada. It later turned up in California
sea lions as a chronic epileptic syndrome following DA
poisonings. The sea lion study provided insight into unusual
behaviors, brain pathology and epidemiology. Our experimental
model defines the disease and steps necessary for progression
from poisoning to epileptic state. Why We Care The long term
effects of poisoning by harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins concern
us. Hundreds of sea lions showed signs of epileptic disease
during time periods when no HAB events were occurring. An
elderly man developed epilepsy a year after he appeared to have
recovered from seizures after eating DA contaminated shellfish.
Direct evidence showing epileptic disease dev