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A ProMED-mail post
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ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: 15 Sep 2008
Source: Kachin News [edited]
<http://www.kachinnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=585&Itemid=50>
In an alarming situation, insects breeding in bio-fuel plants called
castor oil plants, also called Jet Suu in Burmese, have killed at
least a dozen people in northern Burma, said local sources.
Recently, a widow and her daughter died after being bitten by
unidentified insects in castor oil plants or physic nut trees
(_Jatropha curcas_) on [13 Sep 2008] in Myitkyina Township, the
capital of Kachin State, residents in Myitkyina told KNG today [15 Sep 2008].
According to locals, they were bitten by the green-coloured and
earthworm-like insects and died of the poison in the insects within 3
minutes while they were selling snacks under the castor oil trees in
front of No. 5 State High School in Thidar quarter in Myitkyina.
About 10 people including children in Shatapru and Jan Mai Kawng
quarters and a bicycle trishaw driver also reportedly died early this
month [September 2008] after they were bitten by the same insects
from castor oil trees in the township, local sources added.
Meanwhile, alarmed school teachers in Myitkyina have cautioned
students to stay away from castor oil trees in the school compound
and other places, a resident said.
Unusually, the military authorities in Myitkyina cleaned the castor
oil trees around Myitkyina Public General Hospital, Du Mare, Thidar
and Tatkone quarters by cutting the stems early this month [September
2008], said local eyewitnesses.
On the other hand, the new Northern Military Command commander of the
military junta, Maj-Gen Soe Win, has issued a warning that strong
action would be taken on residents who report about the deadly insect
in castor oil trees, according to residents.
In June [2008], several children and adults were hospitalized, and
the patients felt nausea and were dazed after they ate the poisonous
fruits of castor oil trees.
Because of the junta's state-project for future bio-fuel production,
it is mandatory to grow castor oil plants in vacant place near
government buildings, schools, offices, roadsides as well as open
spaces outside the townships, quarters and villages in Myitkyina, added locals.
However, there are no warning signboards and posters in castor oil plantations.
Residents of Myitkyina are alarmed and extremely scared of the
insects because they are surrounded with castor oil trees, said residents.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail subscriber
Joseph Amon <amonj@hrw.org>
[The castor oil plant (_Ricinus communis_) has been studied for many
years for its medicinal, insecticidal and pest reduction abilities.
The presumed toxin is ricin, which is found predominantly in the
seeds of the plant. Low doses of ricin may lead to an acute
anaphylaxis-like reaction, collapse and death. Other symptoms
associated with its ingestion include burning of the mouth, vomiting,
diarrhea, cramps, muscular twitching, convulsions, and possibly renal
failure. A burning sensation of the mouth and throat occurs after
chewing the seeds. After a latent period of 3 to 6 hours, nausea,
vomiting, severe stomach pains, diarrhea, and excessive thirst
develop leading to acute dehydration, hypotension and circulatory
failure. Prostration, blurring of vision, loss of consciousness,
convulsions, haemolysis, uraemia and liver necrosis have also
occurred associated with ricin ingestion (for more details on the
clinical picture, see
<http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/ricinus.htm#PartTitle:2.%20SUMMARY>).
A review of the literature and other documents available on the
Internet suggested that while the castor oil plant extracts have been
used as an insecticide due to their toxicity to many insects, one
reference mentioned that: "The castor plant is not toxic to most
insects, even though small amounts of the toxic protein ricin and the
alkaloid tricinine occur in vegetative parts of the plant (Weiss,
E.A. 1971. Castor, sesame, and safflower. Leonard Hill, London.
1971). Thrips, corn earworms, armyworms, spider mites, leaf miners,
lygus bugs, and green stink bugs have been observed in castor fields
with minimal damage."
<http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-380.html>.
The physic nut trees (Jatropha curcas) have a black, thin shelled
seed that is considered toxic. It is known to contain toxalbumin
curcin. Clinical symptoms associated with their ingestion include
those associated with gastro-intestinal irritation: acute abdominal
pain and a burning sensation in the throat beginning approximately
half an hour after ingestion of the seeds, followed by nausea,
vomiting and diarrhea. The vomitus and faeces may contain blood. In
severe intoxications, dehydration and haemorrhagic gastroenteritis
can occur. There may be central nervous system and cardiovascular
depression and collapse (for more details on the clinical picture, see
<http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/jcurc.htm#SectionTitle:2.2%20%20%20%20%20%20Summary%20of%20clinical%20effects>).
The above newswire does not provide information on the type of insect
that is felt to be responsible for the above reported fatal
reactions. There is mention of an earlier episode (June 2008) in the
same area where persons (adults and children) were sickened after
ingesting the "fruit" (seeds) of the castor oil plants. The reported
instantaneous fatalities are curious, and one wonders whether there
isn't some missing information on the history of what transpired,
perhaps an anaphylactic reaction occurring where the individual(s)
did not have access to immediate medical care.
ProMED-mail toxicology moderator TG had the following observations
worth sharing: "It may be of interest to note that Jatropa curcas
is a primary resource for bio diesel. The alkaloids in the jatropa
may be accumulating in the "worms". It has been observed that
certain butterflies are known to consume some toxins and while they
are not affected by the toxins, those predators that consume the
butterflies often die from the toxins in the butterflies. One wonders
if this same accumulation may be occurring in the "worms" mentioned
in the above newswire. It is also possible that the "worms" that are
referred to are infact insect larvae and not really worms."
More information on this situation from knowledgeable sources would
be appreciated, including identification of the insect allegedly
associated with the fatal reactions, and numbers of cases involved.
For a map of Myanmar, see
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/burma_pol_96.jpg>.
Myitkyina is located in the central portion of the northern state of Kachin.
For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED map of Myanmar with links to
other recent ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS postings in Myanmar and
surrounding areas, see <http://healthmap.org/promed?v=21.2,96.5,5>.
Images of the plants:
Castor oil plant (_Ricinus communis_)
<http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=44173&rendTypeId=4>
<http://www.cambridge2000.com/gallery/html/P9198583.html>
Physic nut trees (_Jatropha curcas_)
<http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/data/Timor/Jatropha.html>
<http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/10842475/Jatropha_Curcas_Seeds.html>
For background postings on ricin toxicity carried on the general
ProMED-mail list, see the following references at
<http://www.promedmail.org>.
- Mod.MPP]
[see also:
Ricin - USA (05): (NV), arrest 20080417.1375
Ricin - USA (04): (NV), conf. 20080305.0912
Ricin - USA (03): (NV), susp. 20080303.0872
Ricin - USA (NV) (02): susp. 20080301.0839
Ricin, death - USA (NV): susp. corr. 20080229.0826
Ricin, death - USA (NV): susp. 20080229.0824
2006
----
Food poisoning, jail inmates - USA (CA): RFI 20060111.0099
2004
----
Ricin, baby food - USA (CA) 20040730.2079
Ricin, home-made - USA (WA) 20040413.1001
Ricin, Senate building - USA (DC) 20040203.0402]
...............................................mpp/msp/tg/mpp
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