Review article
Medical importance of araneism in Yugoslavia a case of the bite of »non-venomous« spider Aranea sexpunctata L.
Olga Milina
; DNZ »I. L. Ribar«, Industrijska zdravstvena stanica »TOZ«, Zagreb Medicinski centar, Pula
Z. Maretić
; DNZ »I. L. Ribar«, Industrijska zdravstvena stanica »TOZ«, Zagreb Medicinski centar, Pula
Abstract
The intoxication due to the spider bite is called araneism (from the Latin term »aranea« which means spider). This term is more adequate than »arachinidism«, which can also refer to envenomation induced by Arachinida in general. In certain areas of Yugoslavia during some seasons spider bites, particularly those of Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, can assume an epidemic character and become an important medical problem. Besides Latrodectus there are also other less toxic spiders in Yugoslavia, such as Chiracanthium punctorium, Lycosa tarantula and Steatoda paykulliana. It has been also reported that venomous spiders from other countries were unintentionally imported with loads of various goods into countries in which they normally do not live. It is also possible that some other spiders which are living here under certain conditions demonstrate their toxicity, as it was in the case of Aranea sexpunctata bite which occurred in the Pencil Factory in Zagreb. As physicians in Yugoslavia may not be sufficiently acquainted with araneism, this is an example that it would be useful to pay more attention to the problem.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
165056
URI
Publication date:
13.12.1977.
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