Question - Which mushroom is sometimes known as the “deadly webcap”, what toxin is contained therein and what toxicity may result from the ingestion of as few as 1-3 of these mushrooms?
Answer - The cited reference notes “The mushroom known as the deadly webcap or Cortinarius rubellus (synonymous with Cortinarius speciosissimus) is occasionally mistaken for eatable chanterelles.” The primary toxin contained therein is the “highly selective nephrotoxin, orellanine”. These authors further note “One to three of the deadly webcaps is considered enough to cause severe renal failure”. (Hedman H et al. Long-term clinical outcome for patients poisoned by the fungal nephrotoxin orellanine. 2017 BMC Nephrology 18:121-128)
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