Venomous Spiders of Albania -does an Increase of Temperature Influence the Toxicity of Spider Venom?

Overview

Journal Toxicon X

Specialty Toxicology

Date 2022 Aug 8

PMID 35935107

Authors

Vrenozi

Blerina

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Methods: The data analyzed is from a decade-long study of 125 patients hospitalized in the regional hospital of Fier County, in the Western Lowland of Albania from May 2009 and to October 2018.

Objective: Although the venom is rarely fatal, the recent spider bites raise questions about the influence of higher air temperatures on their possibly increased toxicity.

Results: Significantly the severity of the α-latrotoxin rises during the summer, when human-spider contact frequency is higher and when the black widow spiders have an increased motivation to protect their egg sacs.

Conclusion: This study revealed an increased severity of the black widow bites with respect to patient health, shown via all the severe systemic symptoms, during those months with higher temperatures.

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