Flying Under the Influence? Duuuude, that's some killer algae!

[havocmom]

http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/reuters06-24-171209.asp?t=renew&vts=62520060640#body

LOS ANGELES, June 24 — Four pelicans suspected of being drunk on sea algae were being tested at a Southern California wildlife center Saturday after one of them crashed headlong into a car.

Three of the California brown pelicans were found wandering dazed in the streets of Laguna Beach after another pelican struck a vehicle's windshield on a nearby coast road.

Officials at the Wildlife Care Center said the seabirds may have been under the influence of algae in the ocean that can produce domoic acid poisoning when eaten.

The other pelicans were rounded up after assistant wildlife director Lisa Birkle warned the public to be on the lookout for birds acting ''drunk,'' disoriented or being in an unusual place.

And we thought high winds were to blame for the pelicans that showed up around Tucson, looking for munchies, a few years back. Duuuude, that is some wicked algae.

http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/Pubs/DomoicAcid.htm

Domoic Acid (ASP) in Shellfish

What is domoic acid?

Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin produced by microscopic algae, specifically the diatom species Pseudo-nitzschia. Shellfish and crab ingest this algae, where the toxin concentrates. Significant amounts of domoic acid can cause Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) in humans. ASP is transmitted by eating contaminated molluscan shellfish and crab.

What are the symptoms of ASP?

Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal cramps within 24 hours of ingestion. In more severe cases, neurological symptoms develop within 48 hours and include headache, dizziness, confusion, disorientation, loss of short-term memory, motor weakness, seizures, profuse respiratory secretions, cardiac arrhythmias, coma and possibly death. Short term memory loss is permanent, thus the name Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning.

When one considers all the fancy-schmancy supper fundraisers attended by the movers and shakers in America, it starts to make sense, doesn't it?