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An outbreak of food poisoning in Canada during autumn 1987 was traced to cultured blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the Cardigan Bay region of eastern Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.). The toxin, identified as domoic acid, had not previously been found in any shellfish and this outbreak represents the first known occurrence of human poisoning by this neurotoxin. A plankton bloom at the time of the outbreak consisted almost entirely of the pennate diatom, Nitzschia pungens f. multiseries, and a positive correlation was found between the number of N. pungens cells and the concentration of domoic acid in the plankton. Nitzschia pungens f. multiseries isolated from Cardigan Bay produced domoic acid in culture at levels (1 to 20 pg∙cell−1) comparable with values estimated for N. pungens in the plankton samples. Isolates of several Cardigan Bay phytoplankton, including the closely related species Nitzschia seriata, failed to produce domoic acid. Other Nitzschia spp. and two Amphora coffeaeformis isolates also failed to produce domoic acid. We conclude that N. pungens was the major source of the domoic acid in toxic mussels in eastern P.E.I. The recurrence, in November 1988, of a monospecific bloom of N. pungens and the presence of domoic acid in plankton and mussels reinforced this conclusion.

Nitzschia pungens f. multiseries (clone NPARL) was grown in nonaxenic batch culture under a range of growth conditions. Domoic acid (DA) was not detected during exponential growth, but production promptly started at a rate of approximately 1 pg DA∙cell−1∙d−1 at the onset of the stationary phase, in this case induced by silicate limitation. Cellular DA reached a maximum of 7 pg∙cell−1; thereafter, DA production continued at the same rate, with cellular levels remaining relatively constant due to concurrent release of DA into the culture medium. DA production ceased in the absence of nitrogen during the stationary phase, but resumed when nitrate was added back to the medium. Low irradiance slowed the division rate and consequently delayed the attainment of the stationary phase, but DA production rates were comparable with the control once stationary phase was reached. Cells during the dark period of a light–dark cycle, or placed into darkness, or in the presence of the photosynthetic inhibitor DCMU promptly ceased DA production. We conclude that at least three conditions are required for DA production by clone NPARL: cessation of cell division, availability of nitrogen during the stationary phase, and the presence of light. Growth in medium f/2 fulfils these requirements.

A moderate T'ai Chi intervention can enhance arthritis self-efficacy, quality of life, and functional mobility among older adults with osteoarthritis. T'ai Chi training is a safe and effective complementary therapy in the medical management of lower extremity osteoarthritis.

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