Bites by spiders of the family Theraphosidae in humans and canines

Isbister, Geoffrey K.; Seymour, Jamie; Gray, Michael R.; Raven, Robert J.

doi:10.1016/s0041-0101(02)00395-1

Cited by 69 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Despite their large size and intimidating appearance, most theraphosids show low aggressivity, and this has led to their popularity as pets, particularly in North America and Europe. Although theraphosids have potentially large venom yields compared with other spiders, the clinical manifestations of human envenoming by these spiders are generally limited to local effects that include varying degrees of pain, erythema, and edema (Lucas et al, 1994;Isbister et al, 2003); however, prolonged muscle cramps have been reported after envenoming by Poecilotheria regalis (Indian ornamental tree spider) (Fuchs et al, 2014). Many theraphosid species are also capable of releasing urticating hairs that cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals (Battisti et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many theraphosid species are also capable of releasing urticating hairs that cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals (Battisti et al, 2011). Experimental studies in vertebrates (Bücherl, 1971;Bettini and Brignoli, 1978;Atkinson, 1993), together with the findings of clinical reports of envenoming in humans, indicate that the effects of theraphosid venoms are more severe in domestic animals and may include death (Robinson and Griffin, 1985;Raven, 2000;Isbister et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pharmacological Characterization of the Edema Caused by Vitalius dubius (Theraphosidae, Mygalomorphae) Spider Venom in Rats

Silva

Linardi

Antunes

et al. 2015

Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

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Bites by tarantulas (Theraphosidae, Mygalomorphae) in humans can result in mild clinical manifestations such as local pain, erythema, and edema. Vitalius dubius is a medium-sized, nonaggressive theraphosid found in southeastern Brazil. In this work, we investigated the mediators involved in the plasma extravasation caused by V. dubius venom in rats. The venom caused dose-dependent (0.1-100 mg/site) edema in rat dorsal skin. This edema was significantly inhibited by butyl]benzamide) (SR48968, a neurokinin NK 2 receptor antagonist) had no effect on the venom-induced increase in vascular permeability. In rat hind paws, the venom-induced edema was attenuated by ketoprofen (a nonselective COX inhibitor) administered 15 minutes postvenom. Preincubation of venom with commercial antiarachnid antivenom attenuated the venom-induced edema. These results suggest that the enhanced vascular permeability evoked by V. dubius venom involves serotonin, COX products, neurokinin NK 1 receptors, and nitric oxide formation. The attenuation of hind paw edema by ketoprofen suggests that COX inhibitors could be useful in treating the local inflammatory response to bites by these spiders.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmacological Characterization of the Edema Caused by Vitalius dubius (Theraphosidae, Mygalomorphae) Spider Venom in Rats

Silva

Linardi

Antunes

et al. 2015

Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

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“…In general, tarantulas are not harmful to humans and there is no record of human deaths resulting from a bite by these spiders [1, 8]. However, it is clear that some venoms are more toxic than others and may cause serious discomfort that might persist for several days.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmacological characterization of venoms from three theraphosid spiders: Poecilotheria regalis, Ceratogyrus darlingi and Brachypelma epicureanum

García-Arredondo¹,

Rodríguez-Rios²,

Díaz-Peña³

et al. 2015

J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis

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BackgroundTarantulas (Theraphosidae) represent an important source of novel biologically active compounds that target a variety of ion channels and cell receptors in both insects and mammals. In this study, we evaluate and compare the pharmacological activity of venoms from three taxonomically different theraphosid spiders bred in captivity: Poecilotheria regalis, an aggressive arboreal tarantula from southeastern India; Ceratogyrus darlingi, an aggressive tarantula from southern Africa; and Brachypelma epicureanum, a docile tarantula from the Yucatan dry forest of Mexico. Prior to this study, no research had been conducted with regard to the composition and pharmacological activity of these venoms.MethodsThe pharmacological characterization of the venoms was described for the first time by the assessment of their toxicity in crickets (LD50) along with their nociceptive (by using the formalin test), hyaluronidase, phospholipase A2, edematogenic and caseinolytic activity.ResultsP. regalis and B. epicureanum venoms induced a similar lethal effect on crickets (LD50 = 5.23 ± 3.1 and 14.4 ± 5.0 μg protein/g 48 h post-injection, respectively), whereas C. darlingi venom (119.4 ± 29.5 μg protein/g 48 h post-injection) was significantly less lethal than the other two venoms. All three venoms induced similar edematogenic activity on rats but did not induce nociceptive behavior. The assessment of enzymatic activity indicated that P. regalis venom induces significantly higher hyaluronidase activity (27.6 ± 0.9 TRU/mg) than both C. darlingi (99.7 ± 1.9 TRU/mg) and B. epicureanum (99.6 ± 1.6 TRU/mg); these latter venoms did not display phospholipase A2 or caseinolytic activity.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that these theraphosid spiders of different habitats produce venoms with different activities. P. regalis venom displays a high level of hyaluronidase activity, which may be associated with its potentially medically significant bite.

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“…Tarantulas, comprising more than 860 species, like all other spiders are predators that feed on a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate prey [1]. Tarantulas do not use webs for capture, but are wellequipped predators, possessing a variety of venoms that target receptors in the nervous system, probably with adaptation to a certain type of prey [2,3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular diversity and evolution of cystine knot toxins of the tarantula Chilobrachys jingzhao

Chen

Deng

et al. 2008

Cell. Mol. Life Sci.

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Cystine knot toxins (CKTs) in spider venoms represent a rich source of novel ligands for varied ion channels. Here, we identified 95 novel putative CKT precursors by analyzing expressed sequence tags of the tarantula Chilobrachys jingzhao venom gland. Phylogenetics analyses revealed one orphan family and six families with sequence similarity to known toxins. To further investigate the relationships of their structures, functions and evolution, we assayed 10 representative toxins for their effect on ion channels, and performed structure model comparisons, evolution analysis and toxin distribution analysis. This study revealed two major types of CKTs: pore-blocking toxins and gating modifier toxins. A few blockers were observed with relatively high abundance and wide distribution, which may be a category of original toxins that block channels conserved in various preys with relatively high specificity. The gating modifier families contain advanced toxins, usually have many members and interact with diverse regulatory components of channels.

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Bites by spiders of the family Theraphosidae in humans and canines

Cited by 69 publications

References 17 publications

Pharmacological Characterization of the Edema Caused by Vitalius dubius (Theraphosidae, Mygalomorphae) Spider Venom in Rats

Pharmacological Characterization of the Edema Caused by Vitalius dubius (Theraphosidae, Mygalomorphae) Spider Venom in Rats

Pharmacological characterization of venoms from three theraphosid spiders: Poecilotheria regalis, Ceratogyrus darlingi and Brachypelma epicureanum

Molecular diversity and evolution of cystine knot toxins of the tarantula Chilobrachys jingzhao

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