Epidemic rhabdomyolysis by quails ingestion. A clinical, epidemiologic andexperimental study

BACKGROUND: Few toxic outbreaks by quails ingestion have been described, no ne in Spain, and the toxic hasn't been identified. A toxic outbreak, by qua ils ingestion that ate Galeopsis ladanum seeds, is described and an animal model is developed, PATIENTS AND METHODS: A rhabdomyolysis outbreak by quails ingestion is stud ied clinical and epidemiologically. Quails crops were analized and 20 patie nts were studied. A murine model was developed, Alcaloid content in Galeops is ladanum seeds and quail meat was measured. RESULTS: Twenty patients suffered from rhabdomyolysis (myalgia, increase of muscular enzymes and myoglobinuria) by ingestion of quails that ate Galeop sis ladanum seeds as it could be seen at their crops. Six patients needed h ospital care but evolution was bening. Rats feeded with quails that ate Gal eopsis ladanum seeds had higher creatinkinase (CK) levels than controls rat s (near significance, p = 0.0588), Several alcaloids, stachydrine included, was detected in seeds. Another alcaloid no identified was detected in quai ls meat. CONCLUSIONS: Quails that eat Galeopsis ladanum seeds are toxic for human be ings, causing rhabdomyolysis. A plant alcaloid could be the toxic involved in the outbreak.