Spiders/Insects Flashcards
where is spider venom stored?
2 glands located in cephalothorax and delivered via fangs (chelicerae)
are all spiders capable of an envenomating bite?
yes except for ones in the family Ulobiridae
spider bite severity
- most only cause local swelling and pain
- anaphylaxis and other allergic rxns possible
likely that fewer than 100 species have significant bites
widow spiders (Latrodectus spp) identification
- red, yellow or orange hourglass marking on ventral abdomen
- fangs of male are too short to cause harm to mammals
- 5 major species in the US
where are widow spiders found?
mostly outside of living spaces, prefer dark secluded spaces: debris piles, densely growing plants
- adults most active during the warm months: due during colder months
- in general are shy and don’t bite unless provoked
widow venom MOA
- mix of 6 neuroactive proteins and enzymes
- principle toxin is alpha-latrotoxin
- causes large release and then depletion of ACh and NE at postganglionic sympathetic synapses
- venom extremely potent! takes tiny amount to kill
what is the widow venom syndrome?
lactrodectism
lactrodectism
- widow venom syndrome
- venom taken up by lymph, enters blood, short lived localized pain at site
- 30-120 mins then pain spreads to large muscle groups all thru body: peaking at 2-3 hours
- mild to moderate hypertension and tachycardia
- signs resolve in 48-72 hrs but weakness, fatigue, insomnia may persist for weeks-months
cats and widow bites
cats very sensitive! paralysis occurs early on: severe pain, howling, vocalizations
- hypersalivation, restlessness, V+/D+
- muscle tremors, cramping, may precede an atonic paralysis
- Cheyne-Stokes respiratory pattern may develop prior to death
Cheyne-Stokes respiratory pattern
shallow, coarse hard breathing pattern: may develop in cats before death from a widow bite
treatment of widow venom
- antivenin! Lycovac!
- largely symptomatic
- opioids for pain, diazepam and methocarb for muscle rigidity, calcium gluconate no longer recommonded
what antivenin is available for widow venom?
equine-origin antivenin Lycovac! cheap and effective, long shelf-life
case study shows activity in felines!
Recluse or Violin Spiders: Loxesceles spp
- 50 species, few capable of significance
- brown recluse (L. reclusa) is only one of medical significance: missouri, arkansas, oklahoma, kansas, etc
- south american species in LA inflicts serious envenomation
MOA of recluse spider venom
- necrotizing enzymes: hyaluronidase, esterases, alkaline phosphatases
- sphingomyelinase D: phospholipase
- inactivates serum hemolytic complement
what are the necrotizing enzymes that recluse spider venom contain?
- hyaluronidase: breaks down collagen
- esterases: breaks down tissues
- alkaline phosphatases: breaks down membranes
what does sphingomyelinase D do?
- recluse spider venom
- phospholipase: binds to cell membranes and induces migration and activation of neutrophils to the site of envenomation
inactivating serum hemolytic complement causes
- intravascular coagulation
- occlusion of small capillaries
- tissue necrosis
- systemic depletion of clotting factors( VII, IX, XI, XII)
clinical signs of brown recluse envenomation in dogs
thrombocytopenia, hemolysis, hemorrhage, hypocellular bone marrow
- 3-8 hours after envenomation, site becomes red, swollen and tender = “bulls eye lesion”
- systemic signs rare, but may develop 48-72 hrs after exposure: hemolysis with anemia, tachycardia, pyrexia, rare
treatment of brown recluse induced necrotic lesions
- chemical debridement: Burrows solution (aluminum acetate) or H2O2 and bandage
- pruritis can be controlled with diphenhydramine
- antibiotics w infection
pain management of brown recluse venom
analgesics: NSAIDs for minor, opioids for severe
what specific medication is for brown recluse venom treatment?
Dapsone (4,4 diaminodiphenylsulfone) : inhibits neutrophil migration and may limit the severity of the necrotic lesions
- experimental antivenins developed, effective if given within 4 hrs of envenomation, but none are commercially available
Hobo spiders: Tegenaria Agretis
- native to europe but new to PNW
- poor climbers; build funnel web at ground level or in basements. males leave webs at night to search for ladies, males are more venomous and more likely to bite
hopbo spider envenomation is called
tegenarism
hobo spider envenomation signs
- initial bite relatively painless
- within 30 mins, expanding area of erythema w lesion reaching 15cm in diameter
- 15-35 hrs area will rupture with serious d/c
- wound may require 3 years to heal in fatty tissue
- in humans signs are headache, nausea, weakness, vision. fatalities are rare
tenegarism is caused by what dangerous spider?
Hobo spiders: tegenaria agretis
treatment of hobo spider venom
- supportive and symptomatic
- local lesion and txt same as brown recluse
- hasn’t been reported in companion animals
Funnel Web Spiders: Atrax and Hadronyche spp
35 species all found in Australia
- A. robustus is most dangerous and human fatalities are reported!
- large, aggressive black spiders
toxic component of funnel web spider venom
neurotoxin: rubustotoxin
- 42 amino acid protein
- binds to pre-synaptic neuron and inhibits CNS-mediated NT release while increasing NT release
- affects ANS and skeletal muscles
- other species have similar toxins that are less potent