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α-Latrotoxin (α-LTX) can naturally be found in widow spiders of the genus Latrodectus. The most widely known of those spiders are the black widows, Latrodectus mactans. [4] The venom of widow spiders (Latrodectus) contains several protein toxins, called latrotoxins, which selectively target either vertebrates, insects or crustaceans. One of ...
Conversely, redback and North American black widows live in proximity with people and several hundred black widow bites are reported to Poison Control in the United States each year. Of the bites reported in the United States from 2001 to 2005, approximately 31% were treated in a health care facility, 0.5% had major complications, and none were ...
The Australian red-back and North American widow species live near humans and bites are frequent, numbering thousands yearly. The venom produces very painful effects including muscle spasms, 'tetanus-like' contractions, nausea and vomiting, and severe generalized pain. A serious bite will often require a short hospital stay to control pain.
Latrodectus hesperus, the western black widow. “The northern black widow, Latrodectus variolus, lives in the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada,” Crawford says. These females lack the ...
A black widow spider travels along her web. Black widows sometimes have various marks on their back beside the red hourglass, including yellowish-orange shapes, two marks or a single dot, and ...
Due to the presence of latrotoxin in their venom, black widow bites are potentially dangerous and may result in systemic effects (latrodectism) including severe muscle pain, abdominal cramps, diaphoresis, tachycardia, and muscle spasms. [28] Symptoms usually last for 3–7 days, but may persist for several weeks. [29]
A black widow bite often causes pain right away, according to the National Capital Poison Center. Around the bite, there will be “tiny puncture wounds” along with some local swelling.
The venom injected by the female black widow is known as alpha-latrotoxin which binds to receptors at the neuromuscular motor end plate of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, resulting in increased synaptic concentration of catecholamines. The symptoms are caused by lymphatic absorption and vascular dissemination of the neurotoxin.