Hemorrhagic erucism due to Lonomia spp. in Peru - A call for action.

Envenomation due to exposure to caterpillars is an emerging public health problem. A life-threatening bleeding diathesis has been described in South America after exposure to Lonomia obliqua or L. acheolus.

Exploring oak processionary caterpillar induced lepidopterism (part 2): ex vivo bio-assays unmask the role of TRPV1.

As human skin comes into contact with the tiny hairs or setae of the oak processionary caterpillar, Thaumetopoea processionea, a silent yet intense chemical confrontation occurs. The result is a mix of issues: skin rashes and an intense itching that typically lasts days and weeks after the contact. This discomfort poses a significant health threat not only to humans but also to animals.

Phylogeny, envenomation syndrome, and membrane permeabilising venom produced by Australia's electric caterpillar Comana monomorpha.

Zygaenoidea is a superfamily of lepidopterans containing many venomous species, including the Limacodidae (nettle caterpillars) and Megalopygidae (asp caterpillars). Venom proteomes have been recently documented for several species from each of these families, but further data are required to understand the evolution of venom in Zygaenoidea. In this study, we examined the 'electric' caterpillar from North-Eastern Australia, a limacodid caterpillar densely covered in venomous spines.

Severely Painful and Pruritic Forearm Rash: A Case of Caterpillar Envenomation in South Florida.

Introduction: The asp caterpillar () is endemic to the southeastern United States, with most sightings in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. A few hundred caterpillar envenomations are reported annually with most cases occurring in July-November. Asp caterpillars have hollow spines along their backs that contain venom.

Caterpillar Envenomation (Lepidopterism) in a Panamanian Jungle: About a Case.

Caterpillar venom has the potential to cause acute pain and systemic symptoms in individuals seeking medical attention in the jungles of Panama. Although this is not an obligatory notifiable disease, the hazards associated with exposure to this animal are widely recognized within the local community. Here, we present a case of a patient who sought medical attention after being rescued from a river in a Panamanian jungle after feeling acute pain in an upper extremity associated with shortness of breath and how tropical medicine teleconsult allowed for quick identification of the cause and assisted in the management.

Biological characterization of bristle extract of Lonomia descimoni caterpillar (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) and effectiveness of Lonomia antivenom to neutralize experimental envenomation in rats.

Contact with Lonomia caterpillars can cause severe envenomation with hemorrhagic syndrome, consumptive coagulopathy, acute renal failure, and death. In Brazil, an antivenom was produced using extracts from L. obliqua caterpillar bristles as antigen and has been used in other countries in South America to treat envenomation caused by distinct species of Lonomia.

Complement System Inhibition Modulates the Inflammation Induced by the Venom of , an Amazon Rainforest Moth Caterpillar.

The caterpillar of the moth, commonly called Pararama, is found in the Brazilian Amazon region. Contact with the hairs can cause a chronic inflammatory reaction, termed "pararamosis". To date, there is still no specific treatment for pararamosis.

Mapping of clinical management resources for snakebites and other animal envenomings in the Brazilian Amazon.

Snakebite envenomings (SBEs) and other envenomings triggered by venomous animals (VAEs) represent a significant disease burden in Brazil, with 29,152 SBEs reported in 2021 alone with nearly half of those occurring in the remote Brazilian Amazon. In 2021, Brazil recorded 240,294 envenomings from snakes, scorpions, spiders, and caterpillars. Therefore, there is an unequal distribution of SBEs with high morbidity and mortality in the Brazilian Amazon.

Envenoming and Innovative Research.

As a tribute to Butantan Institute in its 120th anniversary, this review describes some of the scientific research efforts carried out in the study of envenoming in Brazil, a country where accidents with caterpillars reach over 42,000 individuals per year (especially in South and Southeast Brazil). Thus, the promising data regarding the studies with 's toxins contributed to the creation of new research centers specialized in toxinology based at Butantan Institute, as well as to the production of the antilonomic serum (ALS), actions which are in line with the Butantan Institute mission "to research, develop, manufacture, and provide products and services for the health of the population". In addition, the study of the components of the bristle extract led to the discovery of new molecules with peculiar properties, opening a field of knowledge that could lead to the development and innovation of new drugs aimed at cell regeneration and inflammatory diseases.

Integrative multiomics analysis of Premolis semirufa caterpillar venom in the search for molecules leading to a joint disease.

The joint disease called pararamosis is an occupational disease caused by accidental contact with bristles of the caterpillar Premolis semirufa. The chronic inflammatory process narrows the joint space and causes alterations in bone structure and cartilage degeneration, leading to joint stiffness. Aiming to determine the bristle components that could be responsible for this peculiar envenomation, in this work we have examined the toxin composition of the caterpillar bristles extract and compared it with the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in synovial biopsies of patients affected with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Urine proteomic analysis reveals alterations in heme/hemoglobin and aminopeptidase metabolism during Lonomia obliqua venom-induced acute kidney injury.

Aims: Accidental contact with the Lonomia obliqua caterpillar is a common event in southern Brazil. Envenomed victims present consumption coagulopathy, which can evolve to acute kidney injury (AKI). In the present study, we searched for AKI biomarkers and changes in molecular pathway signatures through urine proteomic analysis.