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
Examples of domoic acid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The domoic acid outbreak during the summer of 2023, which killed hundreds of sea lions and dolphins, is another.
—
Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The bloom consisted of an overgrowth of pseudo-nitzschia marine algae, which produces the neurotoxin domoic acid.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2024
Seeding experiments—about a dozen have taken place so far—had not shown the production of domoic acid.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 16 Mar. 2010
The likely cause, domoic acid from an offshore algae bloom, is not unusual.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 27 June 2023
California sea lions are the ocean mammals most frequently exposed to domoic acid because of the location of their foraging sites and habitats, according to the Channel Islands institute.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2023
The algae produce a neurotoxin called domoic acid that harms animals, including humans.
—Devika Rao, The Week, 3 July 2023
Two consecutive tests following unsafe domoic acid levels are required for the recreational ocean fishery to open Dec. 1.
—oregonlive, 19 Nov. 2022
The Marine Mammal Care Center is caring for more than 100 animals, many of them sea lions with poisoning from domoic acid.
—Laura Studley, CNN, 3 July 2023
Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The bloom consisted of an overgrowth of pseudo-nitzschia marine algae, which produces the neurotoxin domoic acid.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2024
Seeding experiments—about a dozen have taken place so far—had not shown the production of domoic acid.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 16 Mar. 2010
The likely cause, domoic acid from an offshore algae bloom, is not unusual.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 27 June 2023
California sea lions are the ocean mammals most frequently exposed to domoic acid because of the location of their foraging sites and habitats, according to the Channel Islands institute.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2023
The algae produce a neurotoxin called domoic acid that harms animals, including humans.
—Devika Rao, The Week, 3 July 2023
Two consecutive tests following unsafe domoic acid levels are required for the recreational ocean fishery to open Dec. 1.
—oregonlive, 19 Nov. 2022
The Marine Mammal Care Center is caring for more than 100 animals, many of them sea lions with poisoning from domoic acid.
—Laura Studley, CNN, 3 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'domoic acid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Domoic acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/domoic%20acid. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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