Forensic identification of fatal mushroom poisoning: a case report

Area of Science:

• Forensic Toxicology
• Clinical Pathology
• Mycology

Background:

• Mushroom poisoning fatalities are uncommon due to non-lethal toxins and effective treatments.
• This scarcity limits available clinical and pathological data for forensic analysis.
• Accurate identification of mushroom toxins is crucial for forensic investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of death resulting from raw mushroom consumption.
• To provide detailed clinical and pathological data for forensic reference.
• To detect and quantify specific mushroom toxins in biological samples.

Main Methods:

• Case report detailing clinical progression and multi-organ pathology.
• Toxicological analysis of patient's blood and gastric lavage fluid.
• Quantification of ibotenic acid using analytical techniques.

Main Results:

• Detailed clinical data and multi-organ pathological alterations were documented.
• Ibotenic acid was detected in blood (0.381 µg/mL) and gastric lavage fluid (0.202 µg/mL).
• Detection occurred approximately 19 hours post-ingestion, indicating persistence of the toxin.

Conclusions:

• This case provides significant pathological and toxicological data for forensic practice.
• Ibotenic acid can be detected and quantified in biological samples long after mushroom ingestion.
• Emphasizes the potential lethality of certain mushroom poisonings and the importance of forensic analysis.