Dear Colleagues: The following paper is now available from the journal "Harmful Algae" (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/15689883) Fire SE, Wang Z, Leighfield TA, Morton SL, McFee WE, McLellan WA, Litaker RW, Tester PA, Hohn AA, Lovewell G, Harms C, Rotstein DS, Barco SG, Costidis A, Sheppard B, Bossart GD, Stolen M, Durden WN, Van Dolah FM (2009) DOMOIC ACID EXPOSURE IN PYGMY AND DWARF SPERM WHALES (KOGIA SPP.) FROM SOUTHEASTERN AND MID-ATLANTIC U.S. WATERS. Harmful Algae 8:658-664. ABSTRACT: The neurotoxin domoic acid (DA) was detected in urine and fecal samples recovered from pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) and dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) stranding along the U.S. Atlantic coast from 1997 to 2008. Of the 41 animals analyzed from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida, 24 (59%) tested positive for DA at concentrations of 0.4-1.8 ng/mL in urine and 12-13,566 ng/g in feces as determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Feces appeared to be the best indicator of DA exposure in Kogia spp., with 87% of all fecal samples analyzed testing positive for this toxin. Additional stranded animals (n = 40) representing 11 other cetacean species were recovered from the same region between 2006 and 2008 and analyzed by LC-MS/MS, however DA was not detected in any of these individuals. DA is produced naturally by diatoms in the genus Pseudo-nitzschia. Although blooms of DA-producing Pseudo-nitzschia have been associated with repeated large-scale marine mammal mortalities on the west coast of the U.S., there is no documented history of similar blooms on the southeast U.S. coast, and there were no observed Pseudo-nitzschia blooms in the region associated with any of these strandings. The feeding habits of Kogia spp. are poorly documented; thus, the vector(s) for DA exposure to these deep-diving species remains to be identified. Toxin accumulation in these pelagic whale species may be an indication of cryptic harmful algal bloom activity in offshore areas not currently being monitored. This study highlights the need for a better understanding of the role of toxigenic algae in marine mammal morbidity and mortality globally. For more information, please contact me at spencer.fire@noaa.gov Sincerely, Spencer E. Fire, Ph.D. Marine Biotoxins Program Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research NOAA/National Ocean Service 219 Fort Johnson Road Charleston, SC 29412 www.chbr.noaa.gov/marinebiotoxins Tel: 843.762.8574 Fax: 843.762.8700