Domoic acid (DA) is a neuroexcitotoxic amino acid that is naturally produced by some species of marine diatoms during harmful algal blooms (HABs). The toxin is transferred through the food web from plantivorous fish and shellfish to marine mammals resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Due to the timing and location of DA producing HABs, it is well documented that pregnant female California sea lions (CSL) are regularly exposed to DA through their diet thereby posing exposure risks to a neuroteratogen in developing fetuses. In the present study, fluids from 36 fetuses sampled from naturally exposed pregnant CSLs were examined for DA. Domoic acid was detected in 79% of amniotic fluid (n = 24), 67% of allantoic fluid (n = 9), 75% of urine (n = 4), 41% of meconium (n = 17) and 29% of stomach content (n = 21) samples opportunistically collected from CSL fetuses. The distribution of DA in fetal samples indicates an increased prenatal exposure risk due to recirculation of DA in fetal fluids and continuous exposure to the developing brain.

海藻酸（DA）是一种神经兴奋毒性氨基酸，在有害藻华（HAB）期间由某些海洋硅藻物种自然产生。毒素通过食物网从植物性鱼类和贝类转移到海洋哺乳动物中，从而导致很高的发病率和死亡率。由于产生DA的HABs的时间和位置，有充分的文献记载，怀孕的雌性加利福尼亚海狮（CSL）经常通过其饮食接触DA，从而对发育中的胎儿的神经致畸物构成暴露风险。在本研究中，检查了从自然暴露的怀孕CSL中采样的36胎的液体中的DA。在79％的羊水（n = 24），67％的尿囊液（n = 9），75％的尿液（n = 4），从CSL胎儿中随机采集的胎粪样本（n = 17）和胃内容物的29％（n = 21）。胎儿样品中DA的分布表明，由于胎儿体液中DA的再循环以及持续暴露于发育中的大脑，导致产前暴露风险增加。