Topic
Latrodectism
About: Latrodectism is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 101 publications have been published within this topic receiving 2128 citations.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It was evident that black widow spider bites caused a more severe form of envenomation than brown widow bites, characterised by generalised muscle pain and cramps, abdominal muscle rigidity, profuse sweating, raised blood pressure and tachycardia.
Abstract: Cases of black widow (Latrodectus indistinctus) and brown widow (L. geometricus) spider bites referred to the Tygerberg Pharmacology and Toxicology Consultation Centre from the summer of 1987/88 to the summer of 1991/92 were entered into this series. Of a total of 45 patients, 30 had been bitten by black and 15 by brown widow spiders. It was evident that black widow spider bites caused a more severe form of envenomation than brown widow bites, characterised by generalised muscle pain and cramps, abdominal muscle rigidity, profuse sweating, raised blood pressure and tachycardia. The symptoms and signs of brown widow bites were mild and tended to be restricted to the bite site and surrounding tissues. Conditions which should be considered in the differential diagnosis include cytotoxic spider bite, scorpion sting, snakebite, acute abdominal conditions, myocardial infarction, alcohol withdrawal and organophosphate poisoning. To prevent the development of complications, the administration of black widow spider antivenom is recommended in severe cases because untreated latrodectism could become protracted, without improvement, for several days.
123 citations
TL;DR: Most spiders only cause minor effects, including a large number of groups that have been implicated in necrotic arachnidism, including the widow spiders, recluse spiders and some mygalomorph spiders.
120 citations
TL;DR: It would appear that the clinical manifestations of the venom are similar in all species, including the patient's general condition with agonizing pains, cramps, spasms, motor unrest, boardlike abdomen, "facies latrodectismica" and an extended convalescence.
111 citations
TL;DR: An analysis has been made of 2144 consecutive cases of latrodectism (envenomation by the redback spider, Latrodectus mactans hasselti) reported to the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, finding local pain, redness and swelling were the most common symptoms.
Abstract: An analysis has been made of 2144 consecutive cases of latrodectism (envenomation by the red-back spider, Latrodectus mactans hasselti) reported to the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories. In the last eight years, notifications have averaged 240 cases per annum. Bites, usually on the extremities (74%), occurred most frequently in the summer months, and in the afternoon or evening. Most victims (79%) were aged between 18 and 50 years and 64.4% of them were males. Males are still often bitten on the genitals or buttocks (9.7% of cases). Local pain, redness and swelling were the most common symptoms, although significant pain was felt at other sites in 39% of the cases. The regional lymph nodes often became swollen and tender within 30 minutes. General effects included nausea, vomiting and sweating, but coma and respiratory failure were very uncommon, probably because of use of specific antivenom. This was administered within 24 hours of the bite in 92% of cases, and within two hours in 70%. Although 11 anaphylactic reactions (0.54%) were reported, no deaths resulted either from the venom or from reactions to the antivenom. Few delayed serum reactions (1.7%) were recorded. The action of the venom is described and the management of red-back spider bite is outlined. Language: en
105 citations
TL;DR: The molecular basis for the toxicity outside the venom glands has been systematically investigated, with four proteinaceous toxic components being purified and preliminarily characterized, which has expanded the understanding of the widow spider toxins.
Abstract: Widow spiders have received much attention due to the frequently reported human and animal injures caused by them. Elucidation of the molecular composition and action mechanism of the venoms and toxins has vast implications in the treatment of latrodectism and in the neurobiology and pharmaceutical research. In recent years, the studies of the widow spider venoms and the venom toxins, particularly the α-latrotoxin, have achieved many new advances; however, the mechanism of action of the venom toxins has not been completely clear. The widow spider is different from many other venomous animals in that it has toxic components not only in the venom glands but also in other parts of the adult spider body, newborn spiderlings, and even the eggs. More recently, the molecular basis for the toxicity outside the venom glands has been systematically investigated, with four proteinaceous toxic components being purified and preliminarily characterized, which has expanded our understanding of the widow spider toxins. This review presents a glance at the recent advances in the study on the venoms and toxins from the Latrodectus species.
50 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |