Mycetism

One calls mycetism the whole of the Intoxication S by consumption of Champignon S superiors. I.e. mushrooms which synthesize and store molecules (Endotoxine S) toxic for the man and other animals (Zootoxine S) by ingestion.

There exists other case of intoxications answering the same characteristics ( endotoxines, zootoxines ) of which the persons in charge are not macromycètes ( higher mushrooms ) , but of the mycromycètes, for example: the Ergotisme. (responsible mushroom: Claviceps purpurea) This intoxication known with the Middle Ages under the terms of Badly of Burning the or Feu of Saint Antoine is due to the bread consumption manufactured with ergotée flour coming from graminaceous (corn, rye) parasitized by this mushroom causing this disease of cereals known under the name of Ergot of Rye .

One distinguishes various types of intoxications by higher mushrooms (or Mycétisme) classified from a practical point of view, according to the symptoms observed.

Those are gathered by syndrome corresponding to two main categories:

  • lasted of long incubation, higher than 6 hours: unfavourable Forecast .
  • lasted from short incubation, 1/2 to 2 a.m.: favorable Forecast .

incubation is the time which passes between the moment when the mushrooms and the moment are ingérrés when the first gastro-intestinal disorders appear.

Principal syndromes and responsible mushrooms

Incubation > 6 hours

1) Syndrome phalloïdien

Death cap, white Amanita (spring amanita and amanita virosa), Lépiote of small size (helveolla group) the Galères (galère marginée). All these mushrooms contain the same poisons, i.e. the amanitines .

2) Syndrome orellanien

Almost all the Cortinaire S of red, maroon, and yellow color contain poisons responsible for this intoxication, in particular the cortinaire color of Rocou and the resplendent cortinaire .

3) Syndrome gyromitrien

The gyromitres, in particular the Gyromitre delicious, contain a mortal but volatile cellular poison, the gyromitrine: drying with the sun and the air or cooking can eliminate the active ingredient.

4) Severe syndrome resinoidien (or entolomien)

The livid Entolome is the large person in charge of this intoxication sometimes very serious with which one can associate the Clitocybe olive-tree and the striped Tricholome.

5) Syndrome of inconstant but severe intoxication

One finds in this category of the mushrooms whose list is not restrictive and who are, under certain conditions, either not poisons, or very poisons and sometimes mortals: the Paxillus rolled up, the ovoid Amanita proxima variety, lépiotes close to lépiote déguenillée (macrolepiota venenata), the olivaceous Russule (soft flesh)….

30 minutes incubation to 2 a.m.

1) Syndrome resinoïdien light and various

One will find in this category a great number of mushrooms of which toxic effects, in general of unfavourable forecast (incubation lower than 6  hours, often close to 1 with 2  hours after the meal) are not always constant and vary from one subject to another: the boletus Satan, the pretty Clavaire, the yellowing Agaric, the amanita jonquil, the vesiculate Pezize, the boletus châtain, radicant agaric, the “old” puffball (glèbe dark)…

One can attach to this group of many species. (in theory not poisons but doubtful) such as Hypholomes in tufts, Hébélomes, the pholiotes penetrating and remarkable, of abundant viscous mushrooms with cuticules being able to have a laxative effect (Boletus of the pines: Herdsman, Pellet, veiled Little nun, etc). Lastly, of the species known as the emetic russule or the Lactary one toisonné, not poisons, but having a very prickly taste peppered with extreme can be added with this list.

2) Panthérinien syndrome

The Amanita kills fly and the Amanita panther is the principal persons in charge. They contain poisons psychotonic and sometimes hallucinogens.

3) Syndrome sudorien

Practically all Inocybes (conical hat with cracked margin, clayey plates,…) and Clitocybes white of intermediate size to small contain poisons causing in particular a hyper sudation of the poisoned subjects.

4) Coprinien syndrome

Black Coprin of ink produces a toxin of which the effect, identical to the antabuse effect, appears only if it took alcohol there even several days after the consumption of mushroom.

5) Narcotinien syndrome

One will find in this category of many species, in general of small size and coprophiles: Psilocybes, Stophaires, Panéoles, Inocybes, Plutées,… All these mushrooms contain principles hallucinogens; Mycène pure would have the same properties.

Other Syndromes (intoxications inconstant or less characteristics or specific)

1) Haemolytic syndrome

Many species contain thermolabile hemolysins (vaginée Amanita and Amanite reddening (or Golmotte) as well as Helvelles and perhaps of morels): when they are consumed raw or insufficiently cooked they cause intoxications which can go until an impaired renal function with anurie and hospitalization

2) Syndrome of Intolerance

Benign intoxications which occur at certain people only after ingestion of mushrooms considered edible, for example:

a) Intolerance by evil absorption of Trehalose (dissacharide, 2% at certain mushrooms). At the normal man one finds a trehalase in the intestinal mucous membrane which transforms the tréholose into absorbable glucose. Certain individuals do not have this enzyme. Trehalose thus accumulates in the intestine and causes a diarrhea by microbial fermentation.

b) Intolerance with derived with triple connection. The mushrooms contain many poly-acetylenic substances (blue Foot, nebulous Clitocybe) of which some are not tolerated by certain people.

c) Intolerance with fungic antibiotics:

  • direct (allergic standard)
  • indirect (by sterilization of the flora saprophyte of the digestive tract)

d) various Intolerance of the allergic type: certain people are allergic to eggs, spinaches, peanuts… and the mushrooms, even best. These allergies appear by urticaria, oedemas, diarrheas, nauseas,…

E) Incompatibilité enters the chemical composition of certain mushrooms (Boletus, Girolles) with medicamentous treatments and in particular antibiotics. In this case, the symptoms are very diverse.

Lastly, it should be recalled that there exist intoxications due to mushrooms deteriorated in general by ageing or a bad conservation with formation of Ptomaînes (Putrescine, Cadavérine) or attacked by moulds and who are at the origin of gatro-intestinal symptoms more or less serious.

In the same way, the mushrooms are mets little digestes (much cellulose): when one consumes great quantities of them, it can occur gastro-intestinal obstructions (mycobezoars) requiring an surgical operation.

Let us announce finally the intoxications of a psychic nature which occur at the subjects with fragile psychism and too strong imagination (see film “preys” de/et with Clint Eastwood according to the novel “The Beguiled” of T. Culinan).

Lastly, the mushrooms are born from a Mycélium (Dicaryotique) resulting from the union from two gamètes which lives in the litter of the forests and the parks and is spread out over several square meters. This vast “net” enables them to collect very many toxic substances (manure, weeding, pesticides, various pollution, radioactivity…) who concentrate in the sporophores (in the foot and the hat) returning thus toxic of the species however known to be completely inoffensive…

See too

  • Mycotoxicologie (Description of the syndromes)

  • List of toxic mushrooms
  • Mycotoxin (Intoxications by microscopic mushrooms)
  • Toxicology (and lists poisons centres)
  • Mycologie

Random links:Machilly | Sabbatai Zevi | Acatic | Fittipaldi Automotive | Darik' S Boot and Nuke | Adaptaur Belmont | Héros_aux_zéros