Redback spider bites in children in South Australia: A 10-year review of antivenom effectiveness.

Objective: To describe the South Australian paediatric redback spider bite experience and to examine the hypothesis that redback antivenom (RBAV) treatment in children is clinically effective.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of all children under 18 years of age presenting to the EDs of the three major paediatric or mixed hospitals in Adelaide, South Australia, with a discharge diagnosis of redback spider envenomation between 1 January 2010 and 31 March 2020. The main outcome measures include: patient and bite demographics; presenting symptoms and signs; treatment provided; clinical effects at 2 h post RBAV administration on pain, diaphoresis, blood pressure, heart rate and systemic features; overall clinical impression of RBAV effectiveness and resolution of symptoms prior to discharge.

Randomized controlled trial of intravenous antivenom versus placebo for latrodectism: the second Redback Antivenom Evaluation (RAVE-II) study.

Study Objective: Latrodectism is the most important spider envenomation syndrome worldwide. There remains considerable controversy over antivenom treatment. We aimed to investigate whether antivenom resulted in resolution of pain and systemic effects in patients with latrodectism who received standardized analgesia.

Molecular evolution of α-latrotoxin, the exceptionally potent vertebrate neurotoxin in black widow spider venom.

Black widow spiders (members of the genus Latrodectus) are widely feared because of their potent neurotoxic venom. α-Latrotoxin is the vertebrate-specific toxin responsible for the dramatic effects of black widow envenomation. The evolution of this toxin is enigmatic because only two α-latrotoxin sequences are known.

Cloning and activity of a novel α-latrotoxin from red-back spider venom.

The venom of the European black widow spider Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Theridiidae) contains several high molecular mass (110-140 kDa) neurotoxins that induce neurotransmitter exocytosis. These include a vertebrate-specific α-latrotoxin (α-LTX-Lt1a) responsible for the clinical symptoms of latrodectism and numerous insect-specific latroinsectoxins (LITs). In contrast, little is known about the expression of these toxins in other Latrodectus species despite the fact that envenomation by these spiders induces a similar clinical syndrome.

Latrodectism in New Caledonia: first report of presumed redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti) envenomation.

We describe a recent case of presumed redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti) envenomation observed near Noumea in New Caledonia. This is the first local reported case in this archipelago, where L. hasselti is currently considered a native species.

Arachnid toxinology in Australia: from clinical toxicology to potential applications.

The unique geographic isolation of Australia has resulted in the evolution of a distinctive range of Australian arachnid fauna. Through the pioneering work of a number of Australian arachnologists, toxinologists, and clinicians, the taxonomy and distribution of new species, the effective clinical treatment of envenomation, and the isolation and characterisation of the many distinctive neurotoxins, has been achieved. In particular, work has focussed on several Australian arachnids, including red-back and funnel-web spiders, paralysis ticks, and buthid scorpions that contain neurotoxins capable of causing death or serious systemic envenomation.

A double-blind, randomized trial of intravenous versus intramuscular antivenom for red-back spider envenoming.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of intravenous versus intramuscular antivenom (AV) in the treatment of Red-back spider (RBS) envenoming.

Methods: Randomized, double-dummy, double-blind, multicentre trial of patients with red-back spider envenoming requiring AV treatment recruited from five hospital EDs in Western Australia.

Results: Thirty-five patients were recruited; two were excluded; 33 were available for initial analysis, but two who were unblinded after one ampoule of trial AV and given i.

Prospective cohort study of definite spider bites in Australian children.

Objectives: To describe the clinical effects of spider bites in a paediatric population and compare to bites in an adult population.

Methods: Prospective follow up study of children with definite spider bites where the spiders were immediately collected and expertly identified. Cases were recruited from Australian emergency departments and poison information centres and followed up.

Spider bite--the redback spider and its relatives.

Background: Redback spider bite is thought to be the commonest serious spider bite in Australia. The treatment for the envenomation syndrome it causes, termed 'latrodectism', is the most frequently used antivenom in Australia. Several cases of a 'latrodectism-like' illness after cupboard spider bites ('steatodism') have also appeared to respond to redback antivenom.

Effects of envenoming by comb-footed spiders of the genera Steatoda and Achaearanea (family Theridiidae: Araneae) in Australia.

Background: The family Theridiidae (comb-footed spiders) contains the well-known and medically important widow spider group (Latrodectus spp.). Little is known about the effects of envenoming by other common members of this family.

Latrodectism: a prospective cohort study of bites by formally identified redback spiders.

Objective: To determine the spectrum of severity and early diagnostic predictors of redback spider bites (Latrodectus hasselti), and to examine the effect of intramuscular redback antivenom.

Design And Setting: Prospective cohort study of calls to New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australian poisons information centres and presentations to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Royal Darwin Hospital emergency departments.

Patients: 68 people with definite redback spider bites in which the spider was immediately collected and expertly identified (1 February 1999 to 30 April 2002).

Antivenom treatment in arachnidism.

Envenomation by arachnids causes significant medical illness worldwide. Scorpion sting is the most important arachnid envenomation causing adult morbidity and pediatric mortality. Important groups of spiders include the widow spiders (Latrodectus spp.

Red-back spider envenomation in children in Central Australia.

Objective: To describe the clinical spectrum of Red-back spider (RBS) envenomation in children up to 12 years of age.

Methods: Retrospective case notes review of children with a discharge diagnosis of RBS bite from January 1992 to June 2001. The setting was Alice Springs Hospital, the main paediatric hospital for the whole region of Central Australia.

Failure of intramuscular antivenom in Red-back spider envenoming.

Four cases of Red-back spider envenoming are reported in which there was minimal response to intramuscular antivenom. Intravenous antivenom was then administered in each case with almost complete resolution of symptoms. All cases were followed up to confirm the effect of treatment.

A prospective study of 750 definite spider bites, with expert spider identification.

Background: Spider bite is a subject of much medical mythology with prevalent fears that spiders cause severe envenoming, with neurotoxic effects or necrotic ulcers. Clinical experience and small studies suggest otherwise, but this has not been confirmed by prospective studies of bites by identified spiders.

Aim: To describe the clinical effects of bites by accurately identified spiders, and determine whether early clinical features and circumstances can predict spider type.

Clinical and in vitro evidence for the efficacy of Australian red-back spider (Latrodectus hasselti) antivenom in the treatment of envenomation by a Cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa).

We report the case of a 22-year-old female who was bitten on the shoulder by a spider subsequently identified as a female Cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa). She developed nausea, vomiting, and severe local and regional pain, similar to that seen in latrodectism. Symptoms were treated successfully with red-back spider antivenom (RBSAV).

Neutralization of Latrodectus mactans and L. hesperus venom by redback spider (L. hasseltii) antivenom.

Objective: To test the effectiveness of L. hasseltii (redback spider) antivenom in neutralizing the lethal effects of L. hesperus and L.

Red-back spider (Latrodectus hasselti) antivenom prevents the toxicity of widow spider venoms.

Study Objectives: Widow spiders of the genus Latrodectus are found worldwide and produce similar clinical envenomation syndromes. In Australia, red-back spider antivenom (RBS-AV) is effective therapy for Latrodectus hasselti envenomation and it has been reported to reverse envenomation by other widow spiders. This study assessed the efficacy of RBS-AV in preventing in vitro and in vivo toxicity of widow spider venoms of North America and Europe.