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Amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) is an illness caused by consumption of shellfish that contain the marine biotoxin called domoic acid. [1] In mammals , including humans, domoic acid acts as a neurotoxin , causing permanent short-term memory loss , brain damage , and death in severe cases.
Copious amounts of red saliva the Komodo dragons produce help to lubricate the food, but swallowing is still a long process (15–20 minutes to swallow a goat). A Komodo dragon may attempt to speed up the process by ramming the carcass against a tree to force it down its throat, sometimes ramming so forcefully that the tree is knocked down. [43]
Venom may also cause hypotension. [33] In some species such as the Komodo dragon and the desert monitor, venom also induces a powerful neurotoxic effect. In the latter species for instance, envenomation causes immediate paralysis in rodents (but not birds) and lesser effects of the same nature in humans. [34]
An employee at an Ohio zoo is recovering after officials say the worker was attacked by a Komodo dragon. It happened March 3 at the Akron Zoo, the zoo said in a March 19 news release following an ...
Komodo dragons, the world’s largest species of lizard, have iron-tipped teeth that help them to rip their prey apart, according to new research.
Domoic acid (DA) is a kainic acid-type neurotoxin that causes amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). [1] It is produced by algae and accumulates in shellfish, sardines, and anchovies. When sea lions, otters, cetaceans, humans, and other predators eat contaminated animals, poisoning may result.
Okadaic acid, C 44 H 68 O 13, is a toxin produced by several species of dinoflagellates, and is known to accumulate in both marine sponges and shellfish. [1] One of the primary causes of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, okadaic acid is a potent inhibitor of specific protein phosphatases and is known to have a variety of negative effects on cells.
Shellfish poisoning includes four syndromes that share some common features and are primarily associated with bivalve molluscs (such as mussels, clams, oysters and scallops.) [1] As filter feeders, these shellfish may accumulate toxins produced by microscopic organisms, such as cyanobacteria, diatoms and dinoflagellates.