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
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On one Sunday earlier this year, 16 dead dolphins were collected from San Diego-area beaches, a majority of whom later tested positive for high levels of domoic acid.
—
Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025
Algae with domoic acid is sometimes called red tide.
—Carter Evans, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
Ingesting domoic acid can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans and marine mammals, according to the Marine Mammal Care Center.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2025
While some pinnipeds have been successfully treated and released, domoic acid poisoning is almost always fatal for dolphins.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025
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Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025
Algae with domoic acid is sometimes called red tide.
—Carter Evans, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
Ingesting domoic acid can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans and marine mammals, according to the Marine Mammal Care Center.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2025
While some pinnipeds have been successfully treated and released, domoic acid poisoning is almost always fatal for dolphins.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for domoic acid
Cite this Entry
“Domoic acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/domoic%20acid. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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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