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Suntzu
Geek



Registered: 10/14/99
Posts: 1,396
Last seen: 1 month, 16 days
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Cool death cap story
#13286072 - 10/03/10 08:04 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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This doesn't really fit in any category, so if it needs moving, move away.
I am in the middle of a year of clinical experiences, roles which put me in contact with many hospitalized patients' cases. This is the Puget Sound region, and though Amanita phalloides has been found here, it is very rare to have cases where it's associated with a poisoning. In fact, I couldn't find any 'definitive' cases, just poorly documented anecdotes and rumor. If anyone knows of well-documented cases, please PM me. Personally, I've only found it once in the 20 years I've lived here, though I haven't actively sought it out either. I know at least that it has been considered 'rare' in this area. However, this year, 2010, has seen more fruitings in the area than in years past according to the mycology society. Northern California is where most of the poisonings occur -- mostly due to a combination of large fruitings and a large immigrant population.
I can't share a lot of the specifics with this case, but the short story is that a patient presented with all the hallmarks of amatoxin poisoning. The physicians asked all the right questions, showed pictures, etc., learning that they had eaten some wild mushrooms that resembled Amanita spp. the day before. The patient thought the symptoms were due to a dietary supplement they'd been taking, not the mushrooms, because of the delayed onset of symptoms. They were aggressively treated pretty quickly. They did recover after about a week in the ICU. Midway through, I thought to ask the simple question: Where did they find them? The patient named an urban park, and I made a field visit the next day. It took a couple hours scouring, but sure enough. . .
As soon as I saw that annulus, I knew 

Is it any surprise that the deadliest mushroom on the planet has a skirt and vulva? 


In the PNW, oak is the preferred host tree, though apparently filberts will support them just fine as well.


Google streetview of the site, just to show the 'young oak trees' which if were 'imported' would fit the picture of introduction. Of note, VERY URBAN, DRY, EXPOSED SETTING. I wasted a lot of time scouring the more lush areas of the park.

Surprise, surprise, white spore print

I know some folks will appreciate this story. It's not a big deal for California and Oregon, but it's one of [if not the first] definitive, well-document cases in Washington. Patients can have symptoms and every other indication of amatoxin poisoning, but rarely the fungus itself. In this case, the patient identified an Amanita from photographs, named the location, and a persnickety student found the 'rare' Amanita phalloides there. It was definitively ID'd by a 'we're not worthy' expert mycologist in the area. Because this is a rare poisoning for our area, the toxicologists were doubtful about the specificity of ID. But eventually all had to admit there was no arguing with my ID, or the authority who verified it. It's one of those exceptionally rare times when a hunter can 'solve a case'!
"Phalloides did it, in the park, with the cyclopeptide."
Three notes; 1. These things smell absolutely delicious. 2. Don't ever eat them. Even though this patient recovered, the pain they went through was absolutely horrible. 3. FAST treatment is the key for these cases. Even 12 hours can make a big difference...The treatment silibinin [IV] is available in the states, but it needs to get on board ASAP to be of much use. It's a component of milk thistle, and has evidence backing its use in these cases. Combined with high dose penicillin, both agents seem to prevent the toxins from being taken up by the liver.
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Joie


Registered: 10/17/09
Posts: 7,301
Loc: UK
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
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Re: Cool death cap story [Re: Suntzu]
#13286089 - 10/03/10 08:08 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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That is a cool story. I'm glad you guys managed to rescue the patient! And that there were no lions involved.
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elprawn
Mushroom Guestimator



Registered: 10/17/09
Posts: 14,303
Loc: Ilford, England
Last seen: 2 years, 4 months
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Re: Cool death cap story [Re: Joie]
#13286105 - 10/03/10 08:11 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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I suppose this pertains to mushroom hunting.
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dokunai
Cactus, Cannabis, Cubensis

Registered: 01/31/10
Posts: 1,878
Loc: Hyphal Heights, USA
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
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Re: Cool death cap story [Re: elprawn]
#13286122 - 10/03/10 08:14 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Nice work there! I wish I had a chance to use the countless hours I've spent studying fungal taxonomy for good. I could be a superhero... maybe Shroomerman?
As for the phalloides, I've heard they are incredibly delicious too with a taste of potato. And I love the "Clue" reference.
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Bobzimmer
Crawlin' Kingsnake



Registered: 09/07/08
Posts: 8,696
Loc: NY
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Re: Cool death cap story [Re: dokunai]
#13286164 - 10/03/10 08:23 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Awesome post! Thanks!
-------------------- Mr. Mushrooms said: I will confess something that should be quite obvious, CC. I love mushrooms, i.e. fungi. I really do. I am talking about a strong feeling, i.e. emotion, for them. I think they are beautiful. I even dream of them.
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davide
mycaabe wannologist


Registered: 10/20/08
Posts: 409
Loc: ptown
Last seen: 9 years, 3 months
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Re: Cool death cap story [Re: Bobzimmer]
#13293019 - 10/05/10 11:11 AM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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cool man - just found my first death cap myself, and i agree it smelled really good - almost too good.
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amilibertine
It’s good to be back!



Registered: 06/10/09
Posts: 3,241
Loc: Northern South Midwest
Last seen: 8 months, 9 days
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Re: Cool death cap story [Re: davide]
#13293128 - 10/05/10 11:34 AM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Very cool story. Your like a mushroom detective lol. Thanks for sharing.
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daz01
Learning


Registered: 09/30/10
Posts: 4,653
Loc: Scotland
Last seen: 1 hour, 6 minutes
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Re: Cool death cap story [Re: Suntzu]
#13293265 - 10/05/10 12:01 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Suntzu said: Is it any surprise that the deadliest mushroom on the planet has a skirt and vulva? 
HAHA. LOL'd out loud in RL. Damn females of all species get in the way of what we want.... we want sex, gotta get past how women work, we want tasty, safe mushrooms.... mother nature makes a great tasting, looking mushroom that'll kill you!
-------------------- Pain is temporary. It may last for a minute or an hour or a day or even a year but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it will last forever.
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elprawn
Mushroom Guestimator



Registered: 10/17/09
Posts: 14,303
Loc: Ilford, England
Last seen: 2 years, 4 months
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Re: Cool death cap story [Re: daz01]
#13293273 - 10/05/10 12:03 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
daz01 said:
Quote:
Suntzu said: Is it any surprise that the deadliest mushroom on the planet has a skirt and vulva? 
HAHA. LOL'd out loud in RL. Damn females of all species get in the way of what we want.... we want sex, gotta get past how women work, we want tasty, safe mushrooms.... mother nature makes a great tasting, looking mushroom that'll kill you!
I certainly wouldn't trust anything with a skirt and vulva that called itself phalloides.
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LanLord
Stranger


Registered: 01/07/10
Posts: 1,763
Loc: San Mateo, Ca. USA
Last seen: 5 years, 2 months
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Re: Cool death cap story [Re: elprawn]
#13293959 - 10/05/10 02:33 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Where I grew up in So. Cal. there were A. Ocreata by the bushels but no A. Phalloides that I ever found in years of hunting (1977 to 1984). Then I moved to the SF Bay Area and found A. Phalloides on one of my first hunts. It was a very special feeling to find something so notorious. Now, however, I just tire of seeing bushels of the damn things, and almost never finding A. Ocreata.
Actually, I'd rather find all the edibles and magic kinds than any of the poison ones. But they do add a little spice to a hunt.
-------------------- Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
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German Kahuna
Facepalmer of Stoopid



Registered: 10/31/08
Posts: 15,798
Loc: On a Chemical Vacation
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Re: Cool death cap story [Re: Suntzu]
#13294118 - 10/05/10 03:05 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Was the guy who ate them asian?
-------------------- "Vegetarian" [ /ˌvedʒəˈteəriən/] - Ancient slang meaning "village idiot who can't hunt, fish or ride".
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cc2
Mush

Registered: 05/15/10
Posts: 2,611
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cool story
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dicky21



Registered: 10/22/09
Posts: 1,609
Loc: UK
Last seen: 3 years, 6 months
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Re: Cool death cap story [Re: cc2]
#13294703 - 10/05/10 05:04 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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