Watch where you put your hands

[specialist]

These were sent to me by my aunt and uncle today. It give food for thought when we dive into a pile of timber. I know that I don't take a lot of notice when sorting boards.

Robert

[Big Shed]

Doesn't look good.

Would appreciate some more info, what sort of spider? How did they manage to get such a nice picture of the spider, what is happening to the thumb/hand, what is the prognosis?

Only a few weeks ago I was handling some timber in the shed and got bitten by a big huntsman, hurt like hell and had a swollen hand for a few days, but nothing like this!
Also didn't have my camera handy and didn't ask the huntsman to wait to get his picture taken.

[specialist]

Sorry, it's a brown recluse spider. and I don't know the prognosis, but from what I have seen in documentries it isn't good. These pictures apparently came from the westmead hostpital. That's all I know.

I just googled the spider and found that it is american only and here is a link (http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,24719474-5014239,00.html) to the story.

Robert

[Big Shed]

So these pictures came from a hoax email:(

[specialist]

It seems like it, still it serves as a warning for us. There are spiders in this area that can have a similar affect on the body, although not as bad.

Robert

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Ouch!

Apparently here in Oz the common Black House Spider and White-tailed Spider can cause similar necrotic ulcers, although I think that the white-tails have been moved to the "maybe not" list.

Either way, I've no intention of letting one of the li'l blighters bite me to find out!

[Big Shed]

It seems like it, still it serves as a warning for us. There are spiders in this area that can have a similar affect on the body, although not as bad.

Robert


Sorry I disagree, to quote from your link:

No Australian spider is known to have necrotic (tissue-destroying) venom" it said, adding that the brown recluse spider only exists in a very small area of one southern Australian state. It also noted local white-tailed spiders have been "erroneously blamed" for similar wounds.
-

So, a typical News Ltd sensational beat-up.:((

[Groggy]

Well something in Australia does this. I was on a course with a doctor and a few other medical people when the Dr noticed one of the other students hands. Suddenly they are both in a car and off to hospital. Student had a large chunk of flesh cut out. He thought it was a spider bite but wasn't sure.

[RufflyRustic]

Spider bites can be very nasty and can, indeed, turn as nasty as those photos. I don't agree with perpetuating hoaxes, but regardless, those photos simply make me want to be extra careful as we have a large influx of spiders around at the present time.

[specialist]

I don't agree with perpetuating hoaxes

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to post a hoax, my lack of research. I only wanted to give a reminder of what nasties are around in the places that we frequent. Let's face it, there are all sorts of places where we put our hands and can't really see what is there. Just not long ago I found under a house a small agressive spider that was not much bigger than a red back, but was many times more aggressive, it didn't run away, just stood it's ground with front legs in the air. When I decribed it to some old timers around here, they claimed not to have seen one before.

Robert

[Jack E]

Sorry I disagree, to quote from your link:

No Australian spider is known to have necrotic (tissue-destroying) venom" it said, adding that the brown recluse spider only exists in a very small area of one southern Australian state. It also noted local white-tailed spiders have been "erroneously blamed" for similar wounds.
-

So, a typical News Ltd sensational beat-up.:((
That is wrong, the white tail or white tipped spider does have a necrotic effect, I have seen it.

Cheers, Jack

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Googling around, it seems our Black House Spider can cause necrotic ulcers, although only rarely and usually "in the case of multiple bites."

I'd say it's quite possible that this is also true of the white-tail and current denials are the authorities over-reacting to the media overkill, as they are wont to do. :rolleyes:

I still have no intention of finding out personally. :D:p

[rotten_66]

Have a look at

http://www.snopes.com/ (Search on recluse spider)

It is the internet equivalent of mythbusters, quite a few good reads and some really yucky stuff.

This is a hoax, the brown recluse lives in a small part of the US,

DEFINITELY NOT FOUND IN AUSTRALIA.

This email has been doing the rounds for years.

[Big Shed]

Thanks for that

here is a direct link (http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/brownrecluse.asp) to that Snopes page

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Has anyone bothered scanning through the comments on the original link?


Readers' Comments
Gory spider-bite email fools Aussies

By staff writers

November 28, 2008 09:00am
Article from: NEWS.com.au
[...]
Everybody knows that the flesh eating spiders where wiped out when the Australian government released wave after wave of antiwontygongs; which were subsequently driven to extinction by the native drop-bear. Sheep are actually the most venomous of Australia's many creatures - a single bite can cause severe loss of intelligence. Sheep bite victims (often referred to as New Zealanders) go on to believe all they read on the internet and everything that John Howard says.

Posted by: Andrew Lee of null 3:21pm November 28, 2008
Comment 82 of 96


I wonder if he (Andrew Lee) is a regular here in the UBeaut Forums? Sounds mighty familiar... :D

[Jack E]

Nonetheless the white tail spider does exist in Australia and it's bite can have a necrotic effect .

[Big Shed]

Nonetheless the white tail spider does exist in Australia and it's bite can have a necrotic effect .

This article (http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/179_04_180803/isb10785_fm.html) seems to suggest different, but perhaps you have a better reference?

The Australian Museum (http://amonline.net.au/spiders/dangerous/white_tailed/dangerous.htm) also seems to disagree with you.

Again, I would be very interested in your source for your assertion.

[Jack E]

I don't have a source but I have seen the bite, the spider that bit, and the after affects over a few months.

You won't get a better source than that :rolleyes:

It's not an assertion, it's a fact.

[Groggy]

I think the message is getting lost in a discussion of whether it was a white tailed spider, brown recluse or whatever. The simple fact is that *something* causes it and it is wise to be careful of where you stick your hands. If you are bitten by *something* then watch the bite carefully and don't hesitate to run to a doctor.

The guy I spoke about earlier had a large chunk of flesh and muscle cut out of his arm from the knuckle to halfway back to the elbow. I don't think he really cares what it was that bit him, maybe it was a mosquito, whatever, the point is that he needed immediate medical attention but didn't know it. He said his arm just felt numb.

[Burnsy]

The message is an important one and if you need any more persuading about keeping your hands away from spiders that can cause such necrotic effects type brown recluse into youtube - some of the most disgusting videos you will ever find.

I stumbled across them a few months ago and consequently spent about two hours looking into them and their effects. Definitely only found in the US and I think southern - Mexico Tijuana

[Vernonv]

I did some reading when I first got that hoax email (many months ago) and it seems that bacteria in the wound can also cause necrotic effects that often gets blamed on the spider venom (this may? explain what Jack E witnessed).

So the bottom line is that any bite can get infected and cause these types on effects, but I believe these types on effects are quite rare.

[Shedhand]

Well I haven't read all this thread but in 1991 I was leading a retraining project in Launceston. The group was about 20 adult foundry workers. I was making some points on a white-board and one of the workers asked me what I'd done to my arm. I replied nothing and her said well mate it doesn't look too good from where I'm sitting. I twisted my arm to check out what he was looking at and there was a vivid red stripe up my inner arm from my wrist to my armpit...:o...The previous Saturday I had been pruning an apricot tree and was stung/bitten on the thumb (knuckle thereof) by some unseen bug. It hurt for a minute then I forgot about it. The next day it was red and swollen. I didn't feel ill though. On Monday I drove to Launceston and all the way (a 2 hour drive) the thumb itched like buggery.:( I noticed the skin was drying and cracking open and the flesh underneath was wet and shiny. By Monday night my thumb was a bit swollen so I packed it with some antiseptic cream and put 3 band-aids over it. Fast forward to Tuesday afternoon and the aforesaid worker pointed out my red welt. About 10 minutes later I collapsed and they called an ambulance. I woke up in hospital with very large syringe in my thigh which was loaded with a strong antibiotic.:C The surgeon who scraped away the dead flesh said he suspected a white-tail spider.
I almost lost my thumb and the scar is still visible 17 years later. I'm very careful among the trees and my wood stock these days....It was no hoax as far as I'm concerned.
Cheers

[Shannon Nash]

Clean any spider bite asap. One theory on these necrotic ulcers is that it is not the venom but rather the unclean living environment (rotten meat etc) that these spiders feed on that cause the ulceration. Cleaning with warm soapy water and then terating with a betadine type treatment is a good start and then medical attention if very painful or heavy swelling.

We have only one deadly spider in Australia the Sydney Funnel Web so don't need to leave venom on skin as may be suggested with snake bites to help id the culprit (for antivenom reasons).

I was recently stung on the face by a bee. Prompt 1st aid meant little pain and fast recovery.

First aid is ofetn underestimated but it can mean a huge difference. All the best medicine and treatments in the world often cannot match immediate and correct first aid.

Cheers
SN

[Wongdai]

We have only one deadly spider in Australia the Sydney Funnel Web ...

How about the redback spider?

[Jack E]

How about the redback spider?
Painful but not deadly, although it may kill a small child.

[Wongdai]

http://amonline.net.au/spiders/dangerous/redback/index.htm

"Before an antivenom was available, Redback bites caused about a dozen known deaths."

:)

[soundman]

There is quite some disagreement among variuos groups about the exact cause of necrotic ulcers associated with spiders.....the fact is the condition exists.

At to poisonous spiders.....large redbacks can kill..... the head master of my primary school spent a few days in hospital and a couple of weeks off due to a red back spider bite....I think it was possible he had a dodgy heart.

there are redbacks and redbacks.....I have seen them in a cieling with a body as big as a 10c piece....this particular cieling was lousy with them.

Aparantly there is also the tree or forest funnelweb....which is huge and agressive and only recently discovered..... by a bloke who was bitten by it..... many meters up a tree in a forest.

being bitten by stuff in your wood heap is a real and possibly deadly danger....all sorts of things can hide there.....red backs.... definitely funnelwebs, .. centipedes....ants......all sorts of bityies..... definitely snakes...... disturb a king brown in your wood heap and you are in big trouble.

I always wear long trousers, long sleves boots, gloves and a hat when working arround the yard and any heaps of stuff.

In the north just getting bitten by a mosquito can cause you months of suffering from ross river or dengie......I copped a dose last year and am still not 100%.

remember this is australia... evrything bites

cheers

[soundman]

Oh BTW there are funelwebs in Brisbane.

cheers

[Waldo]

I'd recognise that blokes hand anywhere, it's Daryl Jones. He got attacked by a Bufo marinus from 20' away - absolutely terrible what happened to him :yikes:

I used to love it back in Brisbane and I'd be asked by a tourist, "Are those cane toads venomous?", "Hell yeah", I'd reply and go into a big story of how they ambush you in packs of 20 or more...

There's 4 things to be scared of in Queensland:

• Bufo marinus;

• Fire ants;

• Mexicans; and

• you lot from down here. :runaway:


:D

[soundman]

you forgot

box jellyfish

iricanji jellyfish

king browns

tipans

crocodiles

casawaries

stone fish

bull sharks... dont swim in the canals

and

southerners towing caravans:D

cheers

[Waldo]

:yes: , but I was doing the top 4, you listed the next top 10.

[bullfright]

This is all a plot to keep me from moving to Australia but it won't work guys.
If you really want to stop me from moving there you will have to send money..........LOTS of money!

[soundman]

I don't know why... cut we seem to be up to our armpits in canuks up here in QLD.

It's probably the warm weather and the absence of polar bears...

those things are worse than crocks.....I saw a TV programe where a wild life officer had to go out and fix a cabin... a polar bear had wrecked the door and eaten the matress:o

cheers

[bullfright]

Well, here on Vancouver Island, we have rabbits and the occasional deer plus news of cougar once in a while. But just yesterday, (We live about 100 meters from the ocean) we watched about 30 killer whales go by swimming south. Magnificent sight.
Sorry to sidetrack, just had to mention it.

[soundman]

Ya have T wach out for those bunnies, ther' vischious man killers with nasty big teeth :U cheers

[Pheonix]

White tailed spiders do have a necrotic effect, I speak from personal experience.Was awoken early one morning by intense pain just like a bee sting on my left hand switched on the light to see one of those buggers making its way down the bed sheets.By the next day my wrist had ballooned up and the skin started to peel around the bite mark.Straight to quacks big dose of anti biotic via needle then on tablets for two weeks.At its worst wound was about the size of fifty cent piece.Still have the scar.
Everything I had read on the web cautioned against using anti biotics,however fixed my problem:oo:

[mic-d]

More than you ever wanted to know...
White tail spiders are highly unlikely to cause necrotic wounds, brown recluse spiders probably do through necrosis-inducing venom components

Article 1

Comment in: Med J Aust. 2003 Aug 18;179(4):180-1. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12914504?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus) White-tail spider bite: a prospective study of 130 definite bites by Lampona species.

Isbister GK (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Isbister%20GK%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Gray MR (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Gray%20MR%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus).
Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Newcastle, Level 5, Clinical Sciences Building, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia. [email protected]
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the circumstances and clinical effects of bites by white-tail spiders, including the two species Lampona cylindrata and L. murina commonly encountered by humans, and the incidence of necrotic lesions. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of definite white-tail spider bites. Cases were only included if there was a clear history of bite, the spider was caught and was identified by an expert. SETTING: Calls to Australian poisons information centres and emergency departments. PATIENTS: 130 patients with a definite bite by a white-tail spider from February 1999 to April 2002. RESULTS: There were 79 bites by L. cylindrata and 51 by L. murina. Bites occurred in warmer months, 95% indoors and 75% between 16: 00 and 08: 00. The activity at the time of the bite was characteristic and the spider was encountered between bedclothes, towels or clothing. 25% of bites occurred on distal limbs. Pain/discomfort occurred in all cases, and was severe in 27%. Other effects included puncture marks (17%), redness/red mark (83%) and itchiness (44%). Systemic effects occurred in 9%. There were no cases of necrotic ulcers (97.5% CI, 0-2.8%) or confirmed infections. Median duration of effects was 24 hours (interquartile range, 1-168 hours). There were three distinct clinical patterns: pain only (21%), pain and red mark for < 24 hours (35%), and a persistent painful or irritating red lesion (44%). CONCLUSIONS: Bites by Lampona spp. cause minor effects in most cases, or a persistent painful red lesion in almost half the cases. White-tail spider bites are very unlikely to cause necrotic ulcers, and other diagnoses must be sought.
PMID: 12914510 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


Article 2


Suspected white-tail spider bite and necrotic ulcers.

Isbister GK (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Isbister%20GK%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Whyte IM (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Whyte%20IM%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus).
Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia. [email protected]
AIM: To describe the clinical features, investigation, diagnosis and treatment of ulcers attributed to white-tail (WT) spider bites or necrotic arachnidism. METHODS: The study was a prospective case series of patients referred to the Hunter Area Toxicology Service (a tertiary referral toxicology unit servicing a population of 500 000) with an ulcer or skin lesion that had been attributed to either a suspected WT spider bite or necrotic arachnidism. Eleven patients with skin lesions or necrotic ulcers were referred between January 2000 and June 2002. RESULTS: In two patients that were inpatients in other hospitals, investigation and follow up was not possible. In both cases there was no history of spider bite and Staphylococcus aureus was cultured. In nine patients, a diagnosis other than spider bite was made following appropriate investigation and follow up, including: (i) two cases of dermatophytoses, (ii) three staphylococcal infections, (iii) one case of pyoderma gangrenosum, (iv) one case of cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa, (v) one case of Nocardia braziliensis and (vi) one infected diabetic ulcer. There was only one case where the person recalled seeing a spider bite them, but the patient did not collect the spider for identification. The median time to diagnosis was 3 weeks (interquartile range: 3-9 weeks) and 3.5 years in one case. Appropriate treatment was initiated once the correct diagnosis was made and all cases resolved. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, all cases initially referred as WT spider bites or necrotic arachnidism were found to have alternative diagnoses with appropriate investigations. This demonstrates that spider bites are an unlikely cause of necrotic ulcers and that all ulcers should be properly investigated with bacterial, fungal and mycobacterial cultures and skin biopsy for histopathology.


article 3
Brown recluse spider

Two novel dermonecrotic toxins LiRecDT4 and LiRecDT5 from brown spider (Loxosceles intermedia) venom: from cloning to functional characterization.

da Silveira RB (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22da%20Silveira%20RB%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Pigozzo RB (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Pigozzo%20RB%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Chaim OM (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Chaim%20OM%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Appel MH (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Appel%20MH%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Silva DT (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Silva%20DT%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Dreyfuss JL (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Dreyfuss%20JL%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Toma L (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Toma%20L%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Dietrich CP (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Dietrich%20CP%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Nader HB (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Nader%20HB%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Veiga SS (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Veiga%20SS%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Gremski W (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Gremski%20W%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus).
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Loxoscelism (the condition produced by the bite of brown spiders) has been reported worldwide, but especially in warmer regions. Clinical manifestations include skin necrosis with gravitational spreading while systemic loxoscelism may include renal failure, hemolysis and thrombocytopenia. The venom contains several toxins, of which the best biochemically and biologically studied is the dermonecrotic toxin, a phospholipase-D. Purified toxin induces cutaneous and systemic loxoscelism, especially necrotic lesions, hematological disturbances and renal failure. Herein, we describe cloning, heterologous expression and purification of two novel dermonecrotic toxins: LiRecDT4 and LiRecDT5. The recombinant proteins stably expressed in Escherichia coli cells were purified from culture supernatants in a single step using Ni(2+)-chelating chromatography producing soluble proteins of 34 kDa (LiRecDT4) and 37 kDa (LiRecDT5). Circular dichroism analysis evidenced correctly folding for toxins but differences in secondary structures. Both proteins were recognized by whole venom serum antibodies and by a specific antibody to dermonecrotic toxin. Also, recombinant toxins with phospholipase activity induced experimental skin lesions and caused a massive inflammatory response in rabbit skin dermis. Nevertheless, toxins displayed different effects upon platelet aggregation, increase in vascular permeability and not caused death in mice. These characteristics in combination with functional studies illustrates that a family of dermonecrotic toxins exists, and includes two novel members that are useful for future structural and functional studies. They will also be useful in biotechnological ends, for example, as inflammatory and platelet aggregating studies, as antigens for serum therapy source and for lipids biochemical research.
PMID: 17296256 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


article 4
Verified bites by yellow sac spiders (genus Cheiracanthium) in the United States and Australia: where is the necrosis?

Vetter RS (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Vetter%20RS%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Isbister GK (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Isbister%20GK%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Bush SP (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Bush%20SP%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Boutin LJ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Boutin%20LJ%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus).
Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, 92521, USA. [email protected]
Spiders of the genus Cheiracanthium are frequently reported in review articles and medical references to be a definitive cause of dermonecrosis or necrotic arachnidism in humans. We provide 20 cases of verified bites by Cheiracanthium spiders from the United States and Australia, none with necrosis. A review of the international literature on 39 verified Cheiracanthium bites found only one case of mild necrosis in the European species C. punctorium. The basis for the suggestion that this spider genus causes dermonecrosis seems to be mostly inference from venom experiments in rabbits and guinea pigs, circumstantial spider involvement in human skin lesions, and repetitive citation of non-definitive reports in the medical literature. We discuss factors that lead to the erroneous elevation of virtually innocuous spiders to that of significant medical concern, which is a recurring problem in the medical community.
PMID: 16760517 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[prozac]

There are about 400 different types of funnelweb with venom ranging from mild to bloody awful. I was bitten on the ???? once and it knocked me about for 5-6 days. Years have passed and I reckon now a bite in the same spot would have little effect on me at all. LOL.
Have also been bitten by a white tail on the neck. It went sort of weepy and crusty for around 3 months. A minor open wound that just wouldn't heal.

[johnnie52]

Not sure about youse guys spiders, but there have been documented cases of bites from brown recluses causing serve tissue damage here in Florida. At least the recluse is getting the blame for the bites. I'm not telling you some story that I heard from a guy who knows somebody who.... I'm relaying information that I personally saw aired in our local TV news complete with interviews with the people who had the problem and their doctors.

That said, what usually happens is people who get bit don't see a doctor, or keep the area clean and it gets infected. The infection spreads the spiders venom and things get very nasty real fast.

I'm always careful where I stick my hands given the number of strange things that like to inhabit cool dark places.

[viiking]

I can attest to the damage done by white-tip spiders.

My daughter sat on the ground and was bitten on her thigh by a white-tip in Hornsby Heights. Identified because she killed it.

The wound got hot and itchy, then infected and then necrotic as some of the respondents have said. There was basically little treatement available and she ended up with a hole in her thigh the size of a 50 cent piece after several months of horrible sores. It has healed to a certain extent, but she bears the scar for ever.