Loxoscelism

Loxoscelism (/lɒkˈsɒsɪlɪzəm/) is a condition occasionally produced by the bite of the recluse spiders (genus Loxosceles). The area becomes dusky and a shallow open sore forms as the skin around the bite dies (necrosis). It is the only proven type of necrotic arachnidism in humans.[1][lower-alpha 1] While there is no known therapy effective for loxoscelism, there has been research on antibiotics, surgical timing, hyperbaric oxygen, potential antivenoms and vaccines.[1] Because of the number of diseases that may mimic loxoscelism, it is frequently misdiagnosed by physicians.[lower-alpha 2]

Loxoscelism
SpecialtyEmergency medicine 
Scarring from a recluse bite after four months

Loxoscelism was first described in the United States in 1879 in Tennessee.[2] Although there are up to 13 different Loxosceles species in North America (11 native and two nonnative), Loxosceles reclusa is the species most often involved in serious envenomation. L. reclusa has a limited habitat that includes the Southeast United States. In South America, L. laeta, L. intermedia (found in Brazil and Argentina), and L. gaucho (Brazil) are the three species most often reported to cause necrotic bites.

Pathophysiology

Loxoscelism may present with local and whole-body symptoms:

  • Necrotic cutaneous loxoscelism is the medical term for the skin only reaction of loxoscelism. It is characterized by a localized necrotic wound at the site of bite. The majority of Loxosceles bites result in minor skin irritation that heals in one week.[1] Other lesions often need 6 to 8 weeks to heal, and can leave lasting scars.
  • Viscerocutaneous loxoscelism refers to the combination of skin and other organ manifestations. This occurs infrequently after Loxosceles bites. Symptoms include low energy, nausea and vomiting, and fever. Destruction of blood cells (hemolytic anemia) may require transfusion and injure the kidney.[3]: 455  Consumption of clotting factors (so-called disseminated intravascular coagulation ["DIC"]) and destruction of platelets (thrombocytopenia) is reported most often in children. DIC may lead to dangerous bleeding. Occasionally, acute kidney failure may develop from myonecrosis and rhabdomyolysis, leading to coma.[1]

Loxosceles toxins

Loxosceles venom has several toxins; the most important for necrotic arachnidism is the enzyme sphingomyelinase D. It is present in all recluse species to varying degrees and not all are equivalent. This toxin is present in only one other known spider genus (Sicarius).[1] The toxin dissolves the structural components of the cell membrane generating ring forms that perhaps act as a trigger for cellular self-destruction.[4] The area of destruction is limited to the presence of the enzyme which cannot reproduce.

Diagnosis

The spider biting apparatus is short and bites are only possible in experimental animals with pressure on the spider's back. Thus many bites occur when a spider is trapped in a shirt or pant sleeve. There is no commercial chemical test to determine if the venom is from a brown recluse. The bite itself is not usually painful. Many necrotic lesions are erroneously attributed to the bite of the brown recluse. (See Note). Skin wounds are common and infections will lead to necrotic wounds, thus many severe skin infections are attributed falsely to the brown recluse.[5] Many suspected bites occurred in areas outside of its natural habitat.[6] A wound found one week later may be misattributed to the spider. The diagnosis is further complicated by the fact that no attempt is made to positively identify the suspected spider. Because of this, other, non-necrotic species are frequently mistakenly identified as a brown recluse.[7] Several certified arachnologists are able to positively identify a brown recluse specimen on request.[8]

Reports of presumptive brown recluse spider bites reinforce improbable diagnoses in regions of North America where the spider is not endemic such as Florida, Pennsylvania, and California.[9]

The mnemonic "NOT RECLUSE" has been suggested as a tool to help professionals more objectively exclude skin lesions that were suspected to be loxosceles.[10] Numerous (should be solitary), Occurrence (wrong geography) Timing (wrong season), Red Center (center should be black), Elevated (should be shallow depression), Chronic, Large (more than 10 cm), Ulcerates too quickly (less than a week), Swollen, Exudative (there should be no pus, it should be dry)[11]

Treatment

Despite being one of the few medically important spider bites, there is no established treatment for the bite of a Loxosceles spider. Physicians wait for the body to heal itself, and assist with cosmetic appearance. There are, however, some remedies currently being researched.[12]

Anti-venoms

Anti-venoms are commercially prepared antibodies to toxins in animal bites. They are specific for each bite. There are several anti-venoms commercially available in Brazil, which have been shown to be effective in controlling the spread of necrosis in rabbits.[13] When administered immediately, they can almost entirely neutralize any ill effects. If too much time is allowed to pass, the treatment becomes ineffective. Most victims do not seek medical attention within the first twelve hours of being bitten, and these anti-venoms are largely ineffective after this point. Because of this, anti-venoms are not being developed more widely. They have, however, been proven to be very effective if administered in a timely manner and could be utilized in Brazil as a legitimate technique.

Surgical treatment

In cases where a large dermonecrotic lesion has developed, the dead tissue can be surgically removed. Skin grafting may ultimately be needed to cover this defect.

Species implicated

Loxosceles

It is suspected that most if not all species of the genus Loxosceles have necrotic venom. Over fifty species have been identified in the genus, but significant research has only been conducted on species living in close proximity to humans.[14]

Loxosceles reclusa (Brown recluse spider)

Among the spiders bearing necrotic venom, the brown recluse is the most commonly encountered by humans. The range of the brown recluse spider extends from southeastern Nebraska to southernmost Ohio and south into Georgia and most of Texas. It can be distinguished by violin shaped markings on its back. The long spindly ("haywire") legs have no spines or banding pattern. The brown recluse has six eyes, arranged in pairs, an uncommon arrangement but not exclusive. However, many lesser known species of the Loxosceles genus are believed to have similar venoms. L. reclusa is a very non-aggressive species.[15] There have been documented cases of homes having very large populations of brown recluse spiders for many years without any of the human inhabitants being bitten. For this reason, L. reclusa bites are relatively rare, but, because its range overlaps human habitation, its bite is the cause of loxoscelism in North America.

Loxosceles laeta (Chilean recluse spider)

Loxosceles laeta, commonly known as the Chilean recluse spider, is widely distributed in South and Central America. Necrotic skin lesions and systemic loxoscelism are well described with this species. It can be transported by people, and populations in solitary buildings are noted in North America, Finland, and Australia.[16] L. laeta has been documented at elevations between 200m and 2340m.[17] The laeta is cryptozoic, meaning it lives in dark concealed places. This can often mean piles of wood or brick.

Loxosceles deserta (Desert recluse)

L. deserta is found in the Southwest United States. Human interactions with it are rare, because it usually is only found in native vegetation. It is not usually found within heavily populated areas, but its range does come near these areas. It is considered medically unimportant due to the low likelihood of human-to-spider encounters.[18]

Lampona cylindrata (White-tailed spider)

The white-tailed spider, found principally in Australia, was formerly blamed for a series of illnesses including necrotic arachnidism. This used to be part of academic and popular belief, but several reviews of the data have demonstrated no necrosis.[19]

Cheiracanthium inclusum (Yellow sac spider)

Cheiracanthium inclusum, also known as the black-footed yellow sac spider, has been implicated in necrotic skin lesions. C. inclusum's venom has been claimed to be weakly necrotic, but arachnologists contest this assertion.[20] This spider can be found all over North, Central, and South America, as well as in The West Indies. It is often encountered by people indoors and outdoors alike.

Eratigena agrestis (Hobo spider)

Many necrotic lesions in the northwestern United States have been attributed to spider bite. The Centers for Disease Control made a survey[21] as brown recluses are not found in the Pacific Northwest. However, there is a large population of the E. agrestis.[22] This fact has led many to believe that the bite of the hobo spider is also necrotic. Critics note that this evidence is only circumstantial.[5] The species is of European origin and never known to have caused such effects over the hundreds of years that it has been known by, interacted with, and bitten people. Claims of a medically significant bite should be regarded as a myth.[23][24]

Lycosa spp (Wolf spiders)

One of the pioneers in antivenom studies in Brazil in the 1920s first focused on Lycosa species as causes for illness and widespread necrotic lesions. This belief lasted for 50 years until the wolf spider was exonerated.[25]

See also

Notes
  1. The recluse spiders are the only genus definitively shown to cause necrotic bites in humans. The layers of skin die and slough away leaving an ulcer. Since at least 1872, the blanket term necrotic arachnidism has been used in the medical literature, often erroneously implicating spiders that do not cause dermal necrosis. Spider species blamed for necrosis in the past have included wolf spiders, white-tailed spiders, black house spiders, yellow sac spiders, orb weavers, and funnel-weaving spiders such as the hobo spider.[1]
  2. Diseases that may cause symptoms similar to loxoscelism include: streptococcal or staphylococcal infection (particularly by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), herpes simplex, herpes zoster, diabetic ulcer, fungal infection, pyoderma gangrenosum, lymphomatoid papulosis, chemical burn, Toxicodendron dermatitis, squamous cell carcinoma, neoplasia, localized vasculitis, syphilis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema nodosum, erythema multiforme, gonococcemia, purpura fulminans, sporotrichosis, Lyme disease, cowpox, and anthrax.[1]

References
  1. Swanson, David L.; Vetter, Richard S. (2006). "Loxoscelism" (PDF). Clinics in Dermatology. 24 (3): 213–21. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2005.11.006. PMID 16714202. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  2. Appel, MH; Bertoni da Silveira, R; Gremksi, W; Veiga, SS (2005). "Insights into brown spider and loxoscelism" (PDF). Invertebrate Survival Journal. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. 2 (2): 152–158. ISSN 1824-307X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  3. James, William D.; Berger, Timothy G. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.
  4. Lajoie, Daniel M.; Zobel-Thropp, Pamela A.; Kumirov, Vlad K.; Bandarian, Vahe; Binford, Greta J.; Cordes, Matthew H. J.; Gasset, Maria (29 August 2013). "Phospholipase D Toxins of Brown Spider Venom Convert Lysophosphatidylcholine and Sphingomyelin to Cyclic Phosphates". PLOS ONE. 8 (8): e72372. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...872372L. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072372. PMC 3756997. PMID 24009677.
  5. Vetter Richard S (2000). "Medical Myth: Myth: idiopathic wounds are often due to brown recluse or other spider bites throughout the United States". Western Journal of Medicine. 173 (5): 357–358. doi:10.1136/ewjm.173.5.357. PMC 1071166. PMID 11069881.
  6. Vetter Richard S., Edwards G. B., James Louis F. (2004). "Reports of envenomation by brown recluse spiders (Araneae: Sicariidae) outnumber verifications of Loxosceles spiders in Florida". Journal of Medical Entomology. 41 (4): 593–597. doi:10.1603/0022-2585-41.4.593. PMID 15311449.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. Vetter Richard S (2009). "Arachnids misidentified as brown recluse spiders by medical personnel and other authorities in North America". Toxicon. 54 (4): 545–547. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.04.021. PMID 19446575.
  8. Vetter, Rick. "Myth of the Brown Recluse Fact, Fear, and Loathing". UCR Spiders Site. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  9. Vetter, RS (15 September 2009). "Arachnids misidentified as brown recluse spiders by medical personnel and other authorities in North America". Toxicon. 54 (4): 545–7. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.04.021. PMID 19446575.
  10. Stoecker, William V.; Vetter, Richard S.; Dyer, Jonathan A. (2017). "NOT RECLUSE—A Mnemonic Device to Avoid False Diagnoses of Brown Recluse Spider Bites". JAMA Dermatology. 153 (5): 377–378. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.5665. PMID 28199453.
  11. Stoecker, William V.; Vetter, Richard S.; Dyer, Jonathan A. (1 May 2017). "NOT RECLUSE—A Mnemonic Device to Avoid False Diagnoses of Brown Recluse Spider Bites". JAMA Dermatology. 153 (5): 377–378. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.5665. PMID 28199453.
  12. Streeper, Robert T.; Izbicka, Elzbieta (January 2022). "Diethyl Azelate for the Treatment of Brown Recluse Spider Bite, a Neglected Orphan Indication". In Vivo. 36 (1): 94–102. doi:10.21873/invivo.12679. PMC 8765177. PMID 34972703.
  13. Barbaro, K.C.; Knysak, I.; Martins, R.; Hogan, C.; Winkel, K. (2005). "Enzymatic Characterization, Antigenic Cross-Reactivity And Neutralization of Dermonecrotic Activity of Five Loxosceles Spider Venoms of Medical Importance in the Americas". Toxicon. 45 (4): 489–99. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2004.12.009. PMID 15733571.
  14. Vetter, Richard S. (2015). The Brown Recluse Spider. Ithaca, NY. ISBN 978-0801479854.
  15. Fisher, R. G.; Kelly, P.; Krober, M. S.; Weir, M. R.; Jones, R. (1994). "Necrotic Arachnidism". The Western Journal of Medicine. 160 (6): 570–2. ISSN 0093-0415. PMC 1022570. PMID 8053187.
  16. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284124826. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. Gonçalves-de-Andrade, Rute M.; Tambourgi, Denise V. (2003). "First Record On Loxosceles Laeta (Nicolet, 1849) (Araneae, Sicariidae) In The West Zone Of São Paulo City, São Paulo, Brazil, And Considerations Regarding Its Geographic Distribution". Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical. 36 (3): 425–6. doi:10.1590/S0037-86822003000300019. PMID 12908048.
  18. Vetter, Richard S. (2015). The Brown Recluse Spider. ISBN 978-0801479854.
  19. White, Julian; Weinstein, Scott A. (2014). "A phoenix of clinical toxinology: White-tailed spider (Lampona spp.) bites. A case report and review of medical significance". Toxicon. 87: 76–80. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.05.021. PMID 24923740.
  20. Vetter Richard S.; et al. (2006). "Verified bites by yellow sac spiders (genus Cheiracanthium) in the United States and Australia: Where is the necrosis?". American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 74 (6): 1043–8. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2006.74.1043. PMID 16760517.
  21. "Necrotic Arachnidism -- Pacific Northwest, 1988-1996". CDC MMWR.
  22. Baird, Craig R.; Stoltz, Robert L. (2005). "Range Expansion of the Hobo Spider, Tegenaria agrestis, in the Northwestern United States (Araneae, Agelenidae)". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  23. Diaz James H (2005). "Most necrotic ulcers are not spider bites". The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 72 (4): 364–367. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2005.72.364.
  24. Bennett Robert G., Vetter Richard S. (2004). "An approach to spider bites. Erroneous attribution of dermonecrotic lesions to brown recluse or hobo spider bites in Canada". Canadian Family Physician. 50 (8): 1098–1101. PMC 2214648. PMID 15455808.
  25. Lucas, Sylvia M. (June 2015). "The history of venomous spider identification, venom extraction methods and antivenom production: a long journey at the Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil". Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases. 21 (1): 21. doi:10.1186/s40409-015-0020-0. ISSN 1678-9199. PMC 4470033. PMID 26085831.
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