Mushroom Poisoning and the Laboratory's Role in Monitoring Patients

Mushroom Poisoning and the Laboratory's Role in Monitoring Patients is organized by MediaLab, Inc.

Course Description:
This course introduces the reader to the basics of mushroom poisoning and the laboratory's role in monitoring patients suspected of mushroom poisoning. The reader will be able to identify the seven major mushroom poisons and list the major symptoms associated with each poison. Summarize the treatments suggested for each of the discussed toxins and recognize the two phyla of fungi that contain mushroom species confirmed as poisonous.

Objectives:
• Recall the average number of adverse mushroom exposures per year in the United States.
• Recognize the two phyla of fungi that contain mushroom species confirmed as poisonous.
• Identify the seven major mushroom poisons and list the major symptoms associated with each.
• Summarize the treatments suggested for each of the discussed toxins.
• Give examples of laboratory tests used to monitor patients exposed to mushroom poisoning.

Course Outline:
• Prologue
    • Prologue
    • Prologue, continued
• Overview
    • The Consequences of Misidentification of Mushroom Species
    • The Systematic Classification of Fungi
    • Historical Utilization of Mushrooms
    • Mushrooms have been utilized as a food source and for medicinal purposes since:
    • The majority of mushrooms that contribute to human and animal poisoning are within the phylum:
• Toxins
    • Classification of Mushroom Toxins
    • Group 1—Amanitin (Amatoxins)
    • Group 1-A—Orellanine (Delayed Kidney Damage)
    • Group 2—Muscimol/Ibotenic Acid (Isoxazole Derivatives)
    • Group 3—Monomethylhydrazine (Gyromitrin)
    • Group 4--Muscarin
    • Group 5--Coprine
    • Group 6—Psilocybin (Psilocin and Other Indole Derivatives)
    • Group 7—Unknown Toxins and Gastrointestinal Irritants
    • Miscellaneous Syndromes
    • Miscellaneous Syndromes, Continued
    • How many mushroom species in the phyla Basidiomycota and Ascomycota have been confirmed as poisonous?
• Treatment
    • Treatment Initiation
    • Treatment - Presenting Examples of the Mushroom for Identification
    • Treatment - Group 1—Amanitin (Amatoxins)
    • Treatment - Group 1-A—Orellanine (Delayed Kidney Damage)
    • Treatment - Group 2—Muscimol/Ibotenic Acid (Isoxazole Derivatives)
    • Treatment - Group 3—Monomethylhydrazine (Gyromitrin)
    • Treatment - Group 4—Muscarine
    • Treatment - Group 5—Coprine
    • Treatment - Group 6—Psilocybin (Psilocin and Other Indole Derivatives)
    • Treatment - Group 7—Toxins Unknown and Gastrointestinal Irritants and Miscellaneous Syndromes
    • Compendium of Major Toxin Groups
    • Rapid Detection Test for Amanitin
• Laboratory Involvement in Diagnosis and Treatment of Mushroom Poisoning and Other Important Information
    • Laboratory Support
    • Laboratory Support, Continued
    • Pets and Mushroom Poisoning
    • Medical Mushroom Supplements
    • Prevention of Mushroom Poisoning
• References
    • References