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Contact with Lonomia obliqua caterpillars results in a bleeding syndrome characterized by hemorrhage and blood coagulation disturbances. Conventional therapy using antifibrinolytics or cryoprecipitates has been unable to treat pathophysiologic alterations. As antivenoms are effective therapy for treatment of victims of venomous animals, a process of manufacturing a specific antilonomic serum by immunizing horses with Lonomia caterpillar bristle extracts (LBE) was developed. Lonomia caterpillar bristle extracts exhibited several protein bands on SDS-PAGE, induced blood coagulation abnormalities and lethality in mice, and stimulated specific antibody production in horses. Sera obtained from immunized horses were rich in anti-LBE specific antibodies distributed among the horse IgG isotypes. These antibodies had the ability to recognize various LBE antigens as well as to neutralize their coagulopathy-inducing activity. The antivenom manufactured by the developed process was composed of purified and sterilized F(ab')2 with ED50 = 38.61 microl, potency = 0.29 mg/ml, and 95% confidence limit of potency 0.20-1.36.

In 1967 we reported for the first time five cases of an acquired bleeding disorder in humans which developed after contact with saturnidae caterpillars. Since that time, other cases have been reported in Brazil, French Guyana, Peru, Paraguay and Argentina. The caterpillars have been identified as Lonomia achelous (LA) in Venezuela and northern Brazil and as Lonomia obliqua (LO) in southern Brazil. All patients present pain and a burning sensation at the site of contact. Within a few hours hematomas and hematuria are seen in combination with intracerebral and intraperitoneal hemorrhage (in some cases also renal failure). Hematological tests show: mild anemia with leucocytosis; prolonged PT, PTT and ThT; decreased fibrinogen, factor V, factor XIII, plasminogen and alpha2-antiplasmin levels; increased factor VIII:c, von Willebrand factor, and FDPs/D-dimers levels with normal ATIII and platelets. Factor VII, factor II and PC levels varied. Several activities similar to or directed against blood clotting factors have been identified in LA: fibrinolytic enzymes, which degrade fibrinogen producing abnormal FDPs; prothrombin activators: one direct and one factor Xa-like; a thermostable factor V activator; a thermolabile factor V inhibitor; a factor XIII proteolytic/urokinase-like activity; and a kallikrein-like activitiy. In LO three activities have been described: a prothrombin activator called 'Lonomia obliqua prothrombin activator protease' (LOPAP); a factor X activator; and a phospholipase A(2)-like activity called Lonomiatoxin. No fibrinolytic activity has been described in LO. Subcutaneous injection of crude hemolymph and some chromatographic fractions of LA induce a decrease in fibrinogen, plasminogen and factor XIII. Intravenous injection of factor XIII proteolytic/urokinase-like activity induce a dose-dependent thrombolysis with a decrease in plasmatic factor XIII without hemorrhagic manifestations. Intradermal injection of LO bristle extracts in rats and rabbits produce incoagulability whereas intravenous injection of LOPAP induced DIC in mice.

Accidents due to Lepidoptera with special reference to Lonomia sp. Human poisoning by Lepidoptera (butterflies, caterpillars and moths) has been known to physicians since old times. In the last few years, several factors have been causative of a great number of contacts between different stages of these insects and humans, occasionally with epidemic features. Species of medical interest in Argentina are those related to Megalopygidae, Saturniidae, Hemileucidae, Arctiidae, Notodentidae and Eucliedae families. Among all the species involved, it is important to describe the pathology produced by contact with Lonomia obliqua caterpillar (Saturniidae). The caterpillar Lonomia has several enzymes with procoagulant and fibrinolytic activities, acting on various components of the hemostatic system inducing hemorrhage that can lead to death. In the South of Brazil during the last years caterpillars of this butterfly caused a great number of cases of erucism including some deaths. In the past two years, there have been some cases of poisoning by Lonomia obliqua in Misiones, in the North East of Argentina on the border with Southern Brazil. This presents a potential risk, taking into account the poor knowledge regarding this insect and its venom in Argentina. This brief actualization gives some biochemical, clinical and epidemiologic tools towards understanding human Lepidopterism, an uncommon medical problem in this country. Los accidentes por lepidópteros son conocidos desde la antigüedad. En los últimos años en América aumentaron los contactos entre los diferentes estadios de estos insectos ("mariposas", "gatas peludas") y el ser humano, llegando en algunos casos a adquirir características epidémicas. Las familias de Lepidópteros que en la Argentina tienen importancia sanitaria son Megalopygidae, Saturniidae, Hemileucidae, Arctiidae, Notodentidae y Eucliedae. Son de especial atención los accidentes por Lonomia obliqua (Saturnidae), ésta en los últimos años fue motivo de numerosos casos de erucismo en el sur de Brasil, muchos de ellos mortales. La larva de esta mariposa contiene enzimas que actúan sobre diferentes componentes del sistema hemostático provocando hemorragias que pueden conducir a la muerte. En los últimos dos años se comunicaron casos de envenenamiento por Lonomia en la provincia de Misiones. A causa del riesgo potencial que esto representa, sumado a la falta de conocimiento general sobre la patología que producen los venenos de Lepidoptera en humanos, esta actualización pretende brindar algunos elementos epidemiológicos, bioquímicos y clínicos sobre los accidentes causados por los diferentes géneros de Lepidópteros que hay en la Argentina Fil: de Roodt, Adolfo Rafael. Instituto Nacional de Producción de Biológicos; Argentina Fil: Salomón, Oscar Daniel. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina Fil: Orduna, Tomás A.. Centro Municipal de Patología Regional Argentina y Medicina Tropical; Argentina

Accidental poisoning with caterpillars has become increasingly frequent in southern Brazil, partly due to deforestation and elimination of natural predators [1]. Caterpillars are the larval stage of moths and butterflies and are found worldwide [2]. Accidental contact with caterpillar's bristles induces allergic and toxic signs and symptoms that range from mild cutaneous reaction to severe systemic reactions, depending mainly on the number and species of the caterpillar involved. Symptoms include local irritation, urticarial dermatitis, allergy, ocular injuries, osteochondritis, haemorrhage secondary coagulopathy and acute renal failure. Haemorrhagic complications including intra-cerebral can result in mortality [2,3].

Lonomia achelous caterpillar venom (LACV) causes a severe bleeding diathesis in humans. A constant finding in these cases is a profound depression of blood clotting Factor XIII (FXIII) activity. The molecular mechanisms by which LONOMIN V (a chromatographically purified fraction from LACV) alters the FXIII complex is the subject of the present study. Incubation of human purified FXIII with Lonomin V shows that both the zymogen and the activated forms of FXIII were proteolytically degraded, with the generation of peptidic fragments of low molecular weight. Both the A and B subunits of FXIII were degraded in a progressive, dose dependent manner. The B subunit was more resistant to the action of Lonomin V, requiring higher concentrations in order to achieve complete degradation. On the basis of these findings we postulate that the proteolysis of FXIII in vivo is one of the pathophysiological factors behind this bleeding syndrome.

Lonomia Achelous Caterpillar Venom (LACV) causes a severe acquired bleeding diathesis in exposed persons. The condition is characterized by prolonged bleeding from superficial wounds and mucous membranes. Intracranial or intra-abdominal hemorrhage is a common and often fatal complication. A constant finding in these cases is a profound decrease of clotting Factor XIII (FXIII) activity. In the present study, the effects of LACV on plasmatic and purified human FXIII has been evaluated. The results show that native LACV and one of its chromatographicaly purified fractions (termed FIID) produce a dose dependent decrease of FXIII activity accompanied with an impairment of fibrin(ogen) crosslinking. We conclude that the inactivation of FXIII by fraction FIID (which will be named Lonomin V), is one of the principal patho-physiological mechanisms behind the acquired bleeding diathesis seen in these cases. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd

Lonomia accidents occur by contact to caterpillar bristles that penetrate the skin of the victim. This moth presents toxins in its larval stage, which has hemorrhagic effects that can cause accidents and even death in humans. This study presents the first report of Lonomia obliqua in the Zona da Mata Mineira, Southeast Brazil. As the species abundance and phenology are still little known in the region further studies are important, so that prevention and educational measures can be adopted.

Número de páginas não informado. Erucism is a skin reaction to envenomation from certain poisonous caterpillar bristles. In Brazil, most reports of erucism provoked by Lonomia caterpillars are from the southern region. Most manifestations of erucism are local and include burning pain, itching, local hyperthermia and, rarely, blisters (benign symptoms with spontaneous regression in a few hours). General symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, headache, fever, myalgia, abdominal pain and conjunctivitis may also occur. Uncommon symptoms include arthritis, coagulation disorders (manifested as bruising and bleeding), intracerebral hemorrhage and acute renal failure, which comprise serious complications. The present study reports the case of 60-year-old patient from Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, who came into contact with a caterpillar and developed, a few days later, chronic renal disease.

A case of a 37-week pregnant woman who developed a hemorrhagic syndrome and acute renal failure after contact with Lonomia caterpillars is reported. The accident also initiated labour and the patient gave birth to an alive child. Some pathophysiological aspects of the genital bleeding and of the acute renal failure are discussed.Um caso de uma gestante de 37 semanas que desen-volveu uma síndrome hemorrágica e insuficiência renal aguda após contato com lagartas do gênero Lonomia é relatado. O acidente desencadeou trabalho de parto prematuro e a paciente deu à luz a um recém nascido vivo. Alguns aspectos fisiopatológicos do sangramento genital e da insuficiência renal aguda são discutidos.

SummaryA fibrinolytic agent purified from the haemolymph, hair secretion and whole body extract of Lonomia achelous (Cramer)cleaves various chromogenic peptide substrates. The best substrate were found to be pyro-Glu-Gly-Arg-pNA (S-2444) followed by D-Pro-Phe-Arg-pNA (S-2302) and Bz-Ile-Glu-(or) Gly-Arg-pNA (S-2222) designed for urokinase, plasma kallikrein and factor Xa, respectively. Using substrate S-2251 we also found a plasminogen activator.

The second new species of the genus Moreiria is described from Brazil (São Paulo, Santa Catarina). The male of Moreiria maura Townsend, 1932 is recognized and a new definition for the genus is presented.

Five patients were seen who developed a long-lasting fibrinolytic bleeding disorder after contact with caterpillars of the family Saturnidae. The secretion of the hairs of such insects showed fibrinolytic activity and also activated human but not bovine plasminogen.