domoic acid

noun

do·mo·ic acid də-ˈmō-ik-

: a neurotoxin C₁₅H₂₁NO₆ that is produced by some diatoms (especially genus Pseudo-nitzschia) and has caused poisoning in vertebrates (such as sea lions, birds, and humans) that have consumed diatom-contaminated fish or shellfish

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Pseudonitzschia collected in midocean and subjected to shipboard experiments produced plenty of domoic acid. —

Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 16 Mar. 2010 Another wild card in the equation remains elevated levels of domoic acid in the crab viscera, or guts, of some of the sampled crab — particularly off Coos Bay, data shows. —

Mark Freeman, oregonlive, 25 Dec. 2022 Hippocampal lesions in the sea lion brain from natural exposure to domoic acid. —

Matthew Berger, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2015 Risk assessment of the amnesic shellfish poison, domoic acid, on animals and humans. —

Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 7 Feb. 2010 Elevated domoic acid is still detected in some crab viscera, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Agriculture Department. —

oregonlive, 9 Dec. 2022 The health threshold for domoic acid is 30 parts per million in crab viscera, Vance said. —

oregonlive, 19 Nov. 2022 Manderson said more tests are scheduled this weekend and late next week for domoic acid levels. —

oregonlive, 19 Nov. 2022 Increasing domoic acid levels in razor clams will delay the reopening of Oregon’s most popular beds in Clatsop County Oct. 1 and shut down this week’s scheduled digging on southwest Washington beaches. —

Bill Monroe, oregonlive, 23 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'domoic acid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Japanese dōmoi, the alga Chondria armata

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of domoic acid was in 1982

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Domoic acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/domoic%20acid. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

domoic acid

noun

do·mo·ic acid də-ˈmō-ik-

: a neurotoxin analog C₁₅H₂₁NO₆ of glutamic acid that is produced chiefly by marine diatoms (as Pseudo-nitzschia australis and Pseudo-nitzschia pungens) and has caused poisoning in sea mammals and birds and amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans who have consumed contaminated fish or shellfish