Loxosceles intermedia spider venom was subjected to proteomic analysis through a MudPIT shot-gun approach to identify the protein composition. Were identified 39 proteins which seem to responsible by the lesion of different types of tissues, to some physiopathological actions and by the prevention of structural damage to the toxin structures.

Loxosceles laeta spiders were captured in the West zone of São Paulo City, this being the first record of the specie in this area. Since loxoscelism is an important public health problem in the South region of Brazil, it is necessary to investigate the presence of this spider in São Paulo City.

Loxosceles spiders are of concern outside of the arachnological world because their bites can cause occasional necrotic skin lesions and/or systemic complications; these manifestations are known as loxoscelism. Once these spiders became well associated as medical entities, much notoriety was attained through the publication of medical case histories as well as tales of horrific wounds in the ge...

A new species of Loxosceles the laeta species-group, L. vicentei sp. nov., found in Chile is described and illustrated. The male this can be distinguished from that other by having a long straight embolus with truncated tip. female spermatheca large base two slender, curved receptacles both sides.

5 Guilherme Martins1, Maira Oliveira1, Ana Flávia Botelho1, Conrado Gamba2, Clara Duarte3, 6 Adriane Bicalho1, Geovanni Cassali2, Alfredo Goes2, Carlos Chávez-Olórtegui2, Benito 7 Soto-Blanco1 and Marilia Melo1* 8 9 1 Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas 10 Gerais, Brazil; [email protected] (GM); [email protected] (MO);...

INTRODUCTION: The brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa Gertsch & Mulaik (Figs. 1-2, 6), is frequently reported in Florida as a cause of necrotic lesions in humans. For example, in the year 2000 alone, Loft (2001) reported that the Florida Poison Control Network had recorded nearly 300 alleged cases of brown recluse bites in the state; a subset of 95 of these bites was reported in the 21 cou...

Loxosceles spider venoms cause dermonecrosis in mammalian tissues. The toxin sphingomyelinase D (SMaseD) is a sufficient causative agent in lesion formation and is only known in these spiders and a few pathogenic bacteria. Similarities between spider and bacterial SMaseD in molecular weights, pIs and N-terminal amino acid sequence suggest an evolutionary relationship between these molecules. We...

Loxoscelism, the term used to describe lesions and clinical manifestations induced by brown spider's venom (Loxosceles genus), has attracted much attention over the last years. Brown spider bites have been reported to cause a local and acute inflammatory reaction that may evolve to dermonecrosis (a hallmark of envenomation) and hemorrhage at the bite site, besides systemic manifestations such a...

Se denomina loxoscelismo al cuadro clínico resultante de una mordedura araña del género Loxosceles. Hay dos variedades clínicas: local o cutánea (80% los casos) y sistémica cutáneo-visceral. Ambas presentan complicaciones potencialmente serias, desde eritema, necrosis cutánea, hemólisis, falla renal e incluso la muerte. Actualmente no existe un tratamiento estándar para este tipo pacientes.