Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
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We report the case of a 22-year-old female who was bitten on the shoulder by a spider subsequently identified as a female Cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa). She developed nausea, vomiting, and severe local and regional pain, similar to that seen in latrodectism. Symptoms were treated successfully with red-back spider antivenom (RBSAV). ⋯ Venom effects could also be reversed by the addition of antivenom after application of venom to the preparation. Although severe envenomation is uncommon following the bite of Steatoda spp. it may resemble latrodectism. These results indicate that RBSAV is likely to be effective in reversing symptoms of envenomation and should be considered in the treatment of patients with distressing or persisting symptoms.
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Australian funnel-web spiders are recognized as one of the most venomous spiders to humans world-wide. Funnel-web spider antivenom (FWS AV) reverses clinical effects of envenomation from the bite of Atrax robustus and a small number of related Hadronyche species. This study assessed the in vitro efficacy of FWS AV in neutralization of the effects of funnel-web spider venoms, collected from various locations along the eastern seaboard of Australia, in an isolated chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation. ⋯ Venom effects were reversed by subsequent application of FWS AV or prevented by pretreatment of the preparation with antivenom. FWS AV appears to reverse the in vitro toxicity of a number of funnel-web spider venoms from the eastern seaboard of Australia. FWS AV should be effective in the treatment of envenomation from most, if not all, species of Australian funnel-web spiders.
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The ability of Bothrops asper snake venom to cause hyperalgesia was investigated in rats, using the paw pressure test. Intraplantar injection of the venom (5-15 microg/paw) caused a dose and time-related hyperalgesia, which peaked 2h after venom injection. Bothrops asper venom-induced hyperalgesia was blocked by the bradykinin B(2) receptor antagonist HOE 140 and attenuated by dexamethasone, an inhibitor of phospholipase A(2). ⋯ Intraplantar injection of the venom also caused an oedematogenic response which was not modified by any of these pharmacological treatments. These results suggest that hyperalgesia induced by Bothrops asper venom is, at least partially, mediated by bradykinin, phospholipase A(2) activity and leukotrienes. Distinct mechanisms are involved in the development of hyperalgesia and oedema induced by the venom.
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Case Reports
The envenomation syndrome caused by the Australian Red-bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphyriacus.
The Australian elapids inject venom which is characteristic of each species; and which cause characteristic and specific envenomation syndromes in human victims of snakebite. Because many of the medically significant Australian elapids look similar, when glimpsed in the field by snakebite victims, defining human envenomation syndromes with secure species identification has been a slow process. Correlations between securely identified species and the human envenomation syndromes which they produce are still evolving. ⋯ Symptoms of the P. porphyriacus envenomation syndrome include those of bite-site pain, nausea and vomiting, generalised pruritus, chest pain, prostration and abnormalities of taste and smell. Signs include local necrosis and scarring of tissue at the bite-site, gross inflammation of surrounding tissues and, at least in one case, epilepsy. Although envenomation by the Red-bellied Black Snake is not lethal in adults, the correct therapy is Tiger Snake antivenom, administered with judgement, taking into account knowledge of the specific envenomation syndrome of this species and the clinical status of the victim.