Community Corner

Did Biotoxin Kill Dolphins?

Samples taken during necropsies performed on the the animals have been sent to a lab for confirmation. Results are due Thursday.

Necropsies performed at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach on dolphins that came ashore in Newport Beach over the weekend are expected to reveal that the animals died from domoic acid poisoning, officials at the facility said.

Samples taken from the bodies of the two dolphins have been sent to a lab in Los Angeles for confirmation, said Michele Hunter, director of operations and animal care for the center. The results are expected by Thursday, she said.

"We are highly suspicious that it was domoic acid poisoning," Hunter said.

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Domoic acid is a naturally occurring biotoxin found in algae blooms off the California coast. It is increased, in part, by fertilizers and other pollutants that wash out to sea. It remains dormant in fish and shellfish that feed on the plankton until larger mammals and birds feed on the fish that have ingested the substance.

The toxin can result in seizures, brain damage, partial paralysis, foaming at the mouth, disorientation and death.

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A dolphin came ashore on the beach at 15th street Sunday, Animal Control Officer Mike Teague said. Later in the day, another dolphin beached itself off 61st Street, he said.

"Both were alive when they came up and soon died," Teague said.

Since then, there have been no other reports of sick or dead animals coming ashore in Newport Beach, he said.  However, in the Los Angeles County area.


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