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Two milking procedures, electric stimulation and lure-biting, are described and compared. The amount of crude Scodra griseipes venom collected in 3 years by lure-biting was 1670 mg and 1380 mg, respectively, for young females and adult males. The crude venom appears pure on the basis of UV-Vis spectra, which show no hemocyanin absorption bands. The toxicity and induced symptoms of these venoms in mice were evaluated by direct bites and also by LD50 [LD50 (young female venom, i.v.) = 8.1 mg/kg, LD50 (adult male venom, i.v.) > 9.5 mg/kg]. The venom from both sexes was compared by protein content, UV-Vis and 1H-NMR spectroscopies, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE] and size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography [SE-HPLC]. Differences were observed.

The bite of the arthropod Loxosceles is known to cause subdermal hemorrhage, dermal-epidermal separation, inflammatory infiltrates, as well as occlusion and necrosis of small arterioles. We report a case of a brown recluse spider bite that presented as a chronic painful skin plaque, with the unusual histologic findings of a cutaneous and deep subcutaneous hyalinizing panniculitis and myonecrosis.

1. The midgut extracts of 13 Australian spider species produced cellular disruption in mouse skin in tissue culture conditions. 2. Microbial collagenase and the venoms of some of these species had similar effects. 3. Five venoms also caused severe dermonecrosis in living mice. 4. Pre-mixing the venoms with L-cysteine caused complete in vivo and partial in vitro inhibition of their effects. 5. It was concluded that collagenase is a major factor in the aetiology of necrotic arachnidism.

Arachnidism can be manifested either through the skin or systemically. The genus Loxosceles is typically associated with wide necrotic skin lesions, in some cases accompanied by a generalized affection. This is a clinical case of a 16-month-old male, with an ulcer-necrotic lesion in the inferior abdomen associated to a spider bite. In addition, the patient had fever, was vomiting, and was in a general state of malaise, with plateletpenia, leukopenia and anemia. Summarized are the pathogenic processes, clinical findings and recommended treatment methods. Something worth noting is the importance of the clinical history since the spider is rarely found and therefore difficult to identify.

A young woman was bitten on the shoulder by a female Steatoda nobilis spider, in Worthing on the south coast of England. She noticed intense radiating pain, local sweating (indicating parasympathetic stimulation) and feverishness. This immigrant species from the Canary Islands has established itself along the south coast of England in recent years. Like the related Mediterranean species S. paykulliana, S. nobilis may be of medical importance and deserves further study.

A retrospective review was made of 35 cases of Brown Recluse spider bites treated during a period of 21 years. The most common location of the bite was on the lower limbs, particularly the thigh. The main systemic manifestations were fever, malaise and maculopapular rash, but there were no cases of hemolysis, coagulopathy, or of renal or neurologic involvement. Signs indicating a poor prognosis appeared to be lymphangitis, generalized maculopapular rash and location of the bite on the thigh or abdomen. Most cases were treated effectively by rest, elevation of the affected part of the body, local cleansing, and prophylactic antibiotics. On the basis of this experience it was concluded that only when lesions show a necrotic area measuring 2 to 3 cm should patients be treated with systemic corticosteroids. In most such cases, administration of corticosteroids for 14-21 days proved sufficient to avoid the need for surgery. Only 5 cases required surgical intervention.

Previous treatment of dermic lesions caused by brown recluse spider bite has given disappointing results. Cold, steroids and surgical measures are usually ineffective. Following encouraging results reported with the use of dapsone (4-4 diamine diphenyl sulphone) we treated 2 patients with severe dermic lesions. Both recovered satisfactorily. Thus, dapsone is an effective therapy for dermic lesions caused by brown recluse spider bite. The potential toxic effects of this sulphone derivative suggest that it should be used only in severe cases of the disease.

The diagnosis of bite by the brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusus, is rarely based on absolute identification of the insect because the victims are usually bitten while sleeping or dressing. More often, the history, clinical findings and course of the bite lead to the diagnosis. For early confirmation up to 24 hours after the bite, the passive hemagglutination test can be used. For older lesions, the in-vitro lymphocyte transformation test is useful, but is available in only a few medical centers. Treatment of the bite of the brown recluse spider varies from conservative to more active approaches. Resting, local cooling, systemic antibiotics to prevent infection and mild anti-inflammatory drugs may be given. In the more active approach oral corticosteroids are added in the first 72 hours to the antibiotics, especially in massive bites with necrotic centers greater than 2 cm in diameter, or when there is systemic loxoscelism. Recently, good results have been reported with Avlosulfon (dapsone), which is claimed to cure necrotic cutaneous ulcerations, presumably by reducing the activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Other treatments include specific antivenin, (of limited use because it must be administered shortly after the bite), and surgery to prevent spreading of the venom. We describe 3 cases of brown spider bite with typical clinical presentations in adults aged 20-40 years. 2 were treated with corticosteroids and antibiotics and 1 with Avlosulfon and prednisone, all within 72 hours of the bite. 2 recovered completely within a few days, but the third treated with prednisone and antibiotics, developed an ulcer which healed only after several months of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A 28-year-old man presented with painful progressive necrosis of the skin of his left leg which was associated with general toxicity and a high fever. A working diagnosis of necrotizing arachnidism was made, but no improvement followed two weeks of therapy with analgesics, antibiotics and antihistamines. His symptoms responded rapidly to prednisolone therapy, and a diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum was confirmed by biopsy. This subsequently proved to be associated with early acute myelomonocytic leukaemia.

The only spiders of real medical importance to humans in the United States are the Loxosceles and Latrodectus species, primarily the brown recluse and the black window, respectively. These spiders bite humans only when trapped or crushed against the skin. Severe brown recluse spider bites produce dermonecrosis within 72-96 hours, which should be treated with rest, ice compresses, antibiotics, dapsone, and surgery delayed for several weeks. Using systemic corticosteroids may be helpful in treating the much rarer systemic loxoscelism, which has minimal skin changes but produces massive hemolysis. Black widow bites do not produce marked skin changes but primarily produce muscle cramping, pain, and other neuromuscular-related symptoms. Though a specific antivenin for black widow bites is available, pain control, muscle relaxants, and calcium gluconate are generally adequate treatment. Many other spiders inflict painful bites, but arachnids do not medically deserve the bad reputation that they generally have with the public.

Most Australian spiders are capable of causing bites that produce some degree of local injury and occasionally systemic effects. To date, only the Sydney funnel-web spider, which is limited to an area with a 160 kilometre radius from the centre of Sydney, and the female red-back spider, which is found in all states, have been documented as causing deaths. The evidence is mounting that various other species must be considered potentially dangerous.

Brown recluse spider bites may cause painful, necrotic, slow-healing wounds. When these bites involve the hand and upper extremity, they can also create severe functional deficits and long-term disability. We reviewed an 11-year experience with brown recluse bites to the hand and upper extremity. Data from patients (n = 31) indicated a 20% incidence of functional complications (n = 6) unless conservative wound management, dapsone, and antibiotics were used. Delayed surgical excision was preferable until wounds were free from active inflammation. Painful, recurrent wound breakdown and hand dysfunction were more common with early surgical excision. These complications were successfully treated with steroids, sympathetic blockade, and early aggressive physical therapy.

An 8-year-old boy with multiple (up to 12) hemorrhagic and necrotic blisters was eventually diagnosed as being the victim of probable spider bites. Arachnidism, specifically loxoscelism (brown recluse spider bite), is unusual in the northeastern United States.

Necrotic spider bites in the states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, U.S.A., have become increasingly frequent during the past decade. The great majority of cases seen by physicians are tentatively diagnosed as 'brown recluse' spider bite on the basis of clinical manifestations. However, investigation of over 30 such cases from several northwest localities has revealed that Tegenaria agrestis, a spider introduced into the northwest U.S. from Europe, is almost invariably found at the locality where the bite probably occurred. Necrotic arachnidism was seen only in areas where populations of Tegenaria agrestis spiders were well established and did not occur where Tegenaria agrestis was absent. The geographical spread of Tegenaria agrestis spiders parallels the appearance of necrotic arachnidism in several areas. Evaluation of some individual cases strongly implicates Tegenaria agrestis as the responsible organism and Tegenaria agrestis is likely responsible for the majority of 'brown recluse' spider bites seen in the northwest U.S. Tegenaria agrestis should now be considered a species of clinical significance capable of producing marked dermal lesions and, not infrequently, severe toxicosis in humans. Case histories are presented and manifestations of poisoning are described.

Several species of spiders indigenous to the United States can cause a painful and necrotic wound. Recognition of the characteristic clinical course is important to avoid potential complications. A case report and review are presented.

Loxoscelism is a reaction to the bite of spiders of the genus Loxosceles. Several species have been found in the United States; the most commonly encountered is L reclusus, the small brown recluse spider. Two types of reactions occur from the bite. In the localized type, necrotic loxoscelism, a cutaneous lesion with extensive gangrene develops. About 25% of patients have systemic manifestations of viscerocutaneous loxoscelism. There is the same local reaction, but, in addition, fever, chills, vomiting, joint pain, and hematologic abnormalities occur. Hemoglobinemia and hemoglobinuria suggest severe involvement. Deaths are believed to be caused by massive intravascular hemolysis. We describe a 61-year-old man who was bitten on the periorbital region; viscerocutaneous loxoscelism with gangrenous involvement of the eyelids developed. Severe laryngeal edema from regional, massive swelling of his neck was life threatening.

Five patients are described with the clinical and histopathologic picture, including flame figures, of eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells' syndrome). Two of them had documented tick bites in the center of these expanding annular lesions, and the histologic picture showed the diagnostic flame figures of Wells' syndrome (eosinophilic cellulitis). A third patient had a clinical picture suggestive of a tick bite reaction but stated she was stung by a small garden bee at the involved site. The fourth patient removed a spider from the site of a spider bite, and this nodule also histopathologically was identical to that of eosinophilic cellulitis. Our fifth patient presented with papular urticaria of flea bites. We suggest that the characteristic flame figures of eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells' syndrome) are not diagnostic of a specific disease entity but rather a striking and peculiar histopathologic response to multiple factors of which arthropod bites (ticks, bees, fleas, and spiders) represent one definite etiology.

Bites by spiders of the genus Loxosceles have been implicated as a cause of necrotic arachnidism in the Transvaal. The identification and natural history of three species of Loxosceles common in the Transvaal, L. spinulosa, L. speluncarum and L. parrami, are discussed, the clinical symptoms of envenomation as observed both in human patients and in experimental animals are presented, and the histopathological appearance of the lesion, at different stages of its development, is described.

Preliminary studies in rabbits demonstrate that envenomation by the male Tegenaria agrestis spider produces a slowly developing dermal lesion, which exhibits gravitational drift and extensive subcutaneous hemorrhaging. Petechial hemorrhages were present on the lungs, liver and kidneys of rabbits bitten by male Tegenaria agrestis. Female Tegenaria agrestis trials in rabbits produced no significant effects in New Zealand white rabbits, but produced dermal lesions in the California giant strain.

Necrotizing dermatitis, or arachnidism, is a new life-threatening syndrome of which many clinicians are unaware. The condition commences as a rapidly spreading, painful skin inflammation which progresses to fulminating necrotizing dermatitis, involving considerable skin loss. Two cases of arachnidism are presented.

There have been isolated reports in the last 10 years of patients, who had previously been in excellent health, who present with swelling and pain in a peripheral part which is followed by extensive skin loss. It has been presumed that these presentations relate to a creature that has bitten the patient but as yet no creature has been caught in the act of biting; indeed, many patients do not even feel a bite. In view of the rarity of this problem, invariably other diagnoses are considered. This paper describes such a case.

Recent reports have suggested the use of dapsone for brown spider bites. This drug, for many years restricted to use in cases of leprosy and rare dermatologic disorders, has significant side effects that must be recognized. A case of methemoglobinemia is reported in one such patient treated with dapsone. The difficulty of making the diagnosis of brown spider bite is discussed.