A toxic marine organism that kills fish via infection
and produces at least two toxins. Found to date on the US
Atlantic coasts of North Carolina and Maryland. Although
there are no known human fatalities, intoxication is purported
to cause short-term problems such as confusion, fatigue, diarrhea, and breathing difficulties, and may also cause learning
and memory problems. The organism can exist as an amoeba
on river bottoms. While these amoeba can be inactive and
form cysts, they also can secrete zoospores that feed on underwater algae. The zoospores also can transform into toxic dinoflagellates that infect fish.
