| Table 4-19 Select Spiders (Figures 4.39A–F and 4.40A–B) |
| |
Common name |
|
Scientific Name |
|
Appearance/Toxin |
|
Clinical Findings/Treatment |
| |
Black widow
spider |
|
Lactrodectus
mactans |
|
Black with round abdomen; red hourglass-shaped marking on
ventral surface
Toxin: α-latrotoxin (depolarizes
neuron) |
|
Acute edema and pain at site of bite,
systemic symptoms resembling acute surgical abdomen
Treatment: antivenin, benzodiazepine,
IV calcium gluconate |
| |
Brown recluse
spider |
|
Loxosceles
reclusa |
|
Light brown with small body and
long, delicate legs
Toxin: sphingomyelinase D (phospholipase) |
|
Erythema at site of bite → bulla → necrosis;
systemic symptoms associated with
disseminated intravascular coagulation
Treatment: ice, elevation, ± dapsone |
| |
Hobo spider
Funnel web spider |
|
Tegenaria
agrestis |
|
Tan to brown hairy spider with herringbone striped patten on
abdomen
Toxin: causes local mecrosis and
affects CNS |
|
Painless bite, but can lead to necrotic
eschar, ± visual changes, weakness, malaise
Treatment: supportive |
| |
Wolf spider |
|
Hogna spp. |
|
Brown to gray spider with peach-colored stripe down
cephalothorax; eyes arranged in 3
rows, bottom row with four small eyes
Toxin: histamine |
|
Painful bites → ± lymphangitis or eschar
Treatment: supportive |
| |
Green lynx spider |
|
Peucetia viridans |
|
Bright green with red spots,
black spines on legs |
|
Painful bite with tenderness, pruritus
(usually no necrosis)
Treatment: supportive |
| |
Sac spider |
|
Cheiracanthium spp. |
|
Beige or pale yellow, no distinguishing
markings
Toxin: lipase |
|
Painful bite
Treatment: supportive |
| |
Jumping spider |
|
Phidippus spp. |
|
Dark body hairs, variable white
pattern, unique eye arrangement
with largest two eyes in middle
front row
Toxin: hyaluronidase |
|
Painful bite
Treatment: supportive |
| |
Tarantula |
|
Theraphosidae spp. |
|
Large hairy spiders
Toxin: urticating hairs thrown at
skin and eyes – penetrate
epidermis |
|
Pruritus with wheal and flare reaction at site
of hair penetration; ophthalmia nodosa
(ocular inflammation with exposure to hairs,
can lead to vision loss)
Treatment: supportive |
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