John Miller
Amanita phalloides, commonly known as the death cap, is a deadly poisonous basidiomycete fungus and mushroom. Death caps are extremely poisonous — the toxins found in them cause 90% of mushroom poisoning deaths worldwide. The toxins of the death cap mushrooms primarily target the liver, but other organs, such as the kidneys, are also affected. It is estimated that 30 grams (1.1 ounces), or half a cap, of this mushroom is enough to kill a human.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Amanita phalloides |
| Common name | Death cap |
| Type | Basidiomycete fungus and mushroom |
| Genus | Amanita |
| Origin | Europe |
| Appearance | Flat or slightly rounded cap that sits on top of a thick stalk; greenish with a white stipe and gills; variable cap colour, including white forms |
| Confusion with edible mushrooms | Paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea), Caesar's mushroom, puffballs, Agaricus species, Tricholoma equestre |
| Symptoms | Nausea, vomiting, jaundice, seizures, coma, nausea, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal upset, cramps |
| Treatment | Liver transplant, silibinin, intravenous fluids, activated charcoal |
| Prevention | Avoid touching or collecting, dig full mushroom out of the ground to check the bottom of the stalk, get identification by a mycologist before eating |
| Toxicity | Amatoxins, α-Amanitin |
| Amount to kill a human | 30 grams (1.1 ounces) or half a cap; 2 medium-sized caps or 50 grams of fresh material; oral intake of more than 0.32 mg/kg of amatoxins may be lethal |
| Mortality rate | 10-30% |
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What You'll Learn
- The death cap mushroom is native to Europe but can now be found worldwide
- It is highly toxic and responsible for most fatal mushroom poisonings
- Amatoxins in the mushroom cause liver and kidney failure
- Symptoms of ingestion include nausea, vomiting, jaundice, seizures, and coma,
- Treatment for poisoning includes liver transplants and binding toxins with silibinin
The death cap mushroom is native to Europe but can now be found worldwide
The death cap mushroom, or Amanita phalloides, is a deadly poisonous fungus. It is native to Europe but can now be found worldwide. It is one of many toxic species in the genus Amanita, which also includes the destroying angel and fool's mushroom. Death caps are responsible for the majority of fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide, with symptoms of ingestion including nausea, vomiting, jaundice, seizures, and coma.
The death cap mushroom is believed to have originated in Europe, where it is widespread. It can be found in the southern coastal regions of Scandinavia, Ireland, Poland, western Russia, the Balkans, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco and Algeria. Since the late twentieth century, it has been introduced to other parts of the world, including the United States, where it is typically found on the East and West Coasts. On the East Coast, death caps are found in small patches ranging from Maryland to coastal Maine, while on the West Coast, they are more prevalent and can be found in large patches from Southern California to British Columbia in Canada.
The death cap mushroom is dangerous because it resembles several edible species commonly consumed by humans, such as Caesar's mushroom and the straw mushroom. This increases the risk of accidental poisoning, as it can be easily confused with these edible varieties. The death cap has a flat or slightly rounded cap that sits on top of a thick stalk, and the caps are generally greenish in color with a white stipe and gills. However, the cap color can vary, including white forms, so it is not a reliable identifier.
The death cap mushroom contains the poison amanitin, and even half a cap or less is enough to kill a person. The toxins primarily target the liver, but other organs, such as the kidneys, are also affected. It is important to seek medical attention immediately if you suspect death cap mushroom poisoning, as early treatment is critical to preventing liver and kidney damage.
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It is highly toxic and responsible for most fatal mushroom poisonings
The Amanita phalloides, commonly known as the death cap, is a deadly poisonous basidiomycete fungus and mushroom. It is highly toxic and responsible for most fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide. Its toxins primarily target the liver, but other organs, such as the kidneys, are also affected. The death cap mushroom contains a class of compounds known as amatoxins, which inhibit the enzyme RNA polymerase II in our bodies.
The death cap mushroom is native to Europe but can now be found all over the world. It typically grows in forests, on or near trees, and emerges in the spring, late summer, and fall. The large fruiting bodies of the death cap mushroom appear in summer and autumn, and the caps are generally greenish with a white stipe and gills. However, the cap colour can vary, including white forms, making it difficult to identify. This is further complicated by the fact that the death cap mushroom resembles several edible mushroom species commonly consumed by humans, such as Caesar's mushroom and the straw mushroom.
The symptoms of death cap mushroom toxicity usually occur 6 to 12 hours after ingestion, although they may occur sooner if a high dose is ingested. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhoea. After the initial onset of symptoms, there may be a period of remission where the patient feels better before the toxins take effect. The mortality rate of ingestion of the death cap mushroom is believed to be around 10-30%, and even a small amount can be fatal.
Treatment for death cap mushroom poisoning depends on how long it has been since ingestion. Early treatment is critical to prevent liver and kidney damage, and it may include the use of a compound called silibinin, which competitively binds to the same receptors in the liver as the toxin α-Amanitin. In advanced cases of poisoning, extreme measures like a liver transplant may be necessary.
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Amatoxins in the mushroom cause liver and kidney failure
Amatoxins are toxins found in death cap mushrooms, which are responsible for 90% to 95% of mushroom poisoning deaths worldwide. Amatoxins inhibit an enzyme called RNA polymerase II, preventing cells from carrying out essential functions such as creating proteins. This leads to liver and kidney failure, and eventually, death.
Upon ingestion of a death cap mushroom, about 60% of the absorbed amatoxins travel directly to the liver. Both poisoned and healthy liver cells then spit out amatoxins into bile, which is concentrated in the gall bladder. After each meal, the gall bladder releases bile into the gut, and the amatoxins travel with salts in the bile. At the end of the small intestine, most of the bile gets reabsorbed back into the liver. Amatoxins re-enter the liver via the same receptors as the bile salts, and the poisoning cycle repeats.
The other 40% of absorbed amatoxins initially target the kidneys, which serve as the body's blood-waste treatment centre. Healthy kidneys can extract amatoxins from the blood and send them to the bladder, a rare ability for liver poisons. However, until the kidneys eliminate every last bit of poison, amatoxins continue to damage the liver. If the victim stays sufficiently hydrated, the kidneys can continue to function. Without aggressive hydration, amatoxins will poison the kidneys as well. After kidney failure, rapid organ failure is imminent.
To prevent amatoxins from causing liver and kidney damage, a drug would have to protect the liver while the kidneys eliminate the poison. A clinical trial is testing a new treatment for amatoxin poisoning: silibinin, a drug derived from the plant milk thistle (Silybum marianum). Patients who still had intact kidney function and started taking the drug within 96 hours of eating death cap mushrooms have survived.
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Symptoms of ingestion include nausea, vomiting, jaundice, seizures, and coma,
The death cap mushroom, or Amanita phalloides, is a highly toxic fungus that resembles several edible mushrooms commonly consumed by humans. This makes it easy to mistake for something non-deadly and ingest by accident. The death cap mushroom is native to Europe but can now be found all over the world, typically in forests, growing on or near trees.
Symptoms of ingestion include nausea, vomiting, jaundice, seizures, and coma. These symptoms typically occur in two stages. In the first stage, which lasts 6–12 hours, the patient experiences an asymptomatic phase followed by gastrointestinal upset, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. In the second stage, the patient's physical symptoms appear to improve, and the nausea calms down. However, this is only temporary, and the toxin continues to wreak havoc on the body, primarily targeting the liver and causing it to stop functioning. Other organs, such as the kidneys, are also affected, leading to potential organ failure and death.
The mortality rate of ingestion of the death cap mushroom is estimated to be around 10–30%. Treatment for poisoning varies depending on how long it has been since ingestion. Early treatment is critical to prevent liver and kidney damage and may include stabilizing the patient and counteracting the effects of the toxin. In advanced cases, extreme measures like a liver transplant may be necessary.
It is important to note that no amount of death cap mushrooms should be considered safe for consumption. Even a very small amount can be fatal, and treatment is often only effective if administered quickly. If you suspect that you or someone you know has ingested a death cap mushroom, seek medical attention immediately and bring the mushroom with you if possible.
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Treatment for poisoning includes liver transplants and binding toxins with silibinin
Death cap mushrooms, or Amanita phalloides, are highly toxic and responsible for the majority of fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide. The toxins in death cap mushrooms primarily target the liver, but other organs, such as the kidneys, are also affected. Within one to seven days of ingestion, the death cap can result in liver failure, kidney failure, encephalopathy, and death.
Treatment for death cap mushroom poisoning varies depending on how long it has been since the mushroom was ingested. In the early stages of poisoning, treatment focuses on stabilizing the patient and trying to counteract the effect of the toxin. This can include gastric decontamination with activated carbon or gastric lavage, and intravenous fluids. If the patient is at an advanced stage of poisoning, a liver transplant may be necessary to prevent death.
Liver transplants have become a well-established option in amatoxin poisoning. However, transplants themselves may have significant complications, and patients require long-term immunosuppression to maintain the transplant. The criteria for determining when a transplant becomes necessary include the onset of symptoms, prothrombin time (PT), serum bilirubin, and the presence of encephalopathy.
A compound called silibinin can also be used to treat death cap poisoning. Silibinin prevents the uptake of amatoxins by liver cells, thereby protecting undamaged liver tissue. It also stimulates DNA-dependent RNA polymerases, leading to an increase in RNA synthesis. According to one report, patients who started the drug within 96 hours of ingesting the mushroom and who still had intact kidney function all survived.
Other treatments for death cap mushroom poisoning include high-dose continuous intravenous penicillin G, N-acetylcysteine, and activated charcoal. Scientists have also identified a potential antidote to the death cap toxin in indocyanine green, a medical imaging dye that appears to block the toxic effects of α-Amanitin. However, this research has not yet been tested in humans.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that 30 grams (1.1 ounces) or half a cap of the death cap mushroom is enough to kill a human.
Symptoms of death cap mushroom toxicity usually occur 6 to 12 hours after ingestion and may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and other symptoms of gastrointestinal upset. These are followed by jaundice, seizures, and coma, which will lead to death.
If you suspect death cap mushroom poisoning, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Alert medical professionals that you have eaten wild mushrooms and bring the mushroom with you if possible. Treatment for death cap mushroom poisoning may include the administration of a compound called silibinin, which can competitively bind to the same receptors in the liver that α-Amanitin binds to.
