Etiology diagnosis of a food poisoning incident caused by bongkrekic acid

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate a black fungus poisoning incident in Shenzhen and identify the specie of pathogen. Meanwhile， the toxogenic strains， the distribution and metabolism of bongkrekic acid （BA） in vivo were also studied to provide references for treatments of similar incidents.MethodsIsolation and identification of pathogenic bacteria were carried out according to GB/T 4789.29-2003. MALDI-TOF MS was also used. UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS was used for determination of BA in Black Fungus， blood， liver， urine， bacterial suspension and other samples.ResultsDifferent concentrations of BA were found in soaked Black Fungus， blood and urine samples. BA was also found in necrotic liver acquired from liver transplant 5 days after BA intake. Continuous surveillance showed that certain concentration of BA still exist in patient’s blood and urine even 9 days after BA intake. Burkholderia gladioli were isolated from both dried and soaked Black Fungus， and both two strains produced abundant BA after bacilli-culture.ConclusionBurkholderia gladioli in the Black Fungus produced large amount of BA during the soaking process. Then BA was ingested by the patient and widely distribute in vivo. Consequently， the patient died of multiple organ failure.

Keywords

• burkholderia gladioli
• black fungus
• bongkrekic acid
• food poisoning