Evacuation of an Aboriginal community in response to an outbreak of blistering dermatitis induced by a beetle (Paederus australis)

Abstract

Objective: To describe an outbreak of dermatitis induced by the beetle Paederus australis and the public health measures implemented to control it.

An outbreak of Paederus dermatitis in a suburban hospital in South India: A report of 123 cases and review of literature

“…20 The clinical differential diagnoses of paederus dermatitis include acute allergic or irritant contact dermatitis, 15 thermal burns, 1 herpes zoster, 15 herpes simplex, 5 bullous impetigo, and phytophotodermatitis. 15 In the case of paederus dermatitis, the uncommon association of acute dermatitis with minimal or no complaints (commonly presenting as a ''night burn'') facilitates diagnosis, which is corroborated by the season and case history.…”

Horizontal transmission of biosynthetic capabilities for pederin in Paederus melanurus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

“…However, as many species are known to cause blistering on humans it is possible that this compound is widely distributed within the genus. Outbreaks of the affliction have been reported from tropical (George & Hart 1990;Couppié et al 1992;Okiwelu et al 1996;Todd et al 1996) and temperate (Claborn et al 1999;Ş endur et al 1999) regions.…”

11. Staphylinoidea Latreille, 1802. Teil 2

“…Steidle & Dettner (1993 and Steidle et al (1995) found that the defensive secretions of Oxytelinae: Bledius were effective against predators in the field (although not 100% so) and that the particular ratio of components found in the defensive secretion was more effective than other proportions, and Dettner (1991) found that different solvent components in secretions of Oxytelinae influenced the effectiveness of the secretion. Pederin interferes with mitosis and causes severe skin blistering and serious conjunctivitis if gotten into the eyes, sometimes causing problems for farm workers or rural residents at times of high beetle populations (Frank & Kanamitsu 1987;Todd et al 1996). Jefson et al (1983) found that the secretion of Staphylininae: Creophilus was effective against ants both in pure form in bioassays and when applied by the beetles with an admixture of fecal material.…”