Practical aspects of genetic identification of hallucinogenic and other poisonous mushrooms for clinical and forensic purposes

Abstract

Aim: To assess the usefulness of a DNA-based method foridentifying mushroom species for application in forensiclaboratory practice. Methods: Two hundred twenty-one samples of clinical forensicmaterial (dried mushrooms, food remains, stomachcontents, feces, etc) were analyzed. ITS2 region of nuclearribosomal DNA (nrDNA) was sequenced and the sequenceswere compared with reference sequences collectedfrom the National Center for Biotechnology Informationgene bank (GenBank). Sporological identification of mushroomswas also performed for 57 samples of clinical material. Results: Of 221 samples, positive sequencing results wereobtained for 152 (69%). The highest percentage of positiveresults was obtained for samples of dried mushrooms(96%) and food remains (91%). Comparison with GenBanksequences enabled identification of all samples at least atthe genus level. Most samples (90%) were identified at thelevel of species or a group of closely related species. Sporologicaland molecular identification were consistent at thelevel of species or genus for 30% of analyzed samples. Conclusion: Molecular analysis identified a larger numberof species than sporological method. It proved to be suitablefor analysis of evidential material (dried hallucinogenicmushrooms) in forensic genetic laboratories as well asto complement classical methods in the analysis of clinicalmaterial.