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Tremor syndrome associated with a fungal toxin: sequelae of food contamination
Author(s) -
Lewis Peter R,
Donoghue Michael B,
Cook Lucy,
Granger Linda V,
Hocking Ailsa D
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb06819.x
Subject(s) - officer , public health , unit (ring theory) , medicine , management , library science , history , archaeology , psychology , nursing , mathematics education , computer science , economics
We report on an elderly couple who presented with a syndrome that included severe generalised tremor and incoordination after eating soup from a damaged can. Black mould contaminating the can was subcultured and the fungus Penicillium crustosum was identified. This fungus usually produces a potent neurotoxin called penitrem A. The couple displayed symptoms consistent with penitrem A ingestion, all of which resolved fully. Penitrem A intoxication has been well documented in animals, but not in humans.