Which neurotoxin caused an outbreak poisoning in Canada in 1987 via the consumption of contaminated shellfish?
Domoic Acid.
Domoic acid is a potent neurotoxin that is naturally produced by several diatom species and occurs via the consumption of contaminated shellfish that have accumulated the toxin while filter feeding on phytoplankton during blooms. It is a glutamate agonist and is excitotoxic in the CNS and other glutamate receptor-rich organs. The first reported human domoic acid poisoning event occurred in Canada in 1987 during which clinical signs of acute toxicity such as gastrointestinal distress, confusion, disorientation, memory loss, coma and death were observed.
Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19505488/
Submitted by: Mary O’Keefe, PharmD on behalf of the Acute and Intensive Care Section