Functional alterations of rabbit erythrocytes induced by Loxosceles gaucho venom.

Loxoscelism is the syndrome caused by the brown spider Loxosceles gaucho bite in humans. Its effect on erythrocytes has been studied in humans, rabbits, pigs and guinea pigs. In this study, the damage that the L gaucho spider venom causes to the structure and function of erythrocytes in vivo was investigated in rabbits.