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A latrotoxin is a high-molecular mass neurotoxin found in the venom of spiders of the genus Latrodectus (widow spiders) as well as at least one species of another genus in the same family, Steatoda nobilis. [1] Latrotoxins are the main active components of the venom and are responsible for the symptoms of latrodectism.
These small spiders have an unusually potent venom containing the neurotoxin latrotoxin, which causes the condition latrodectism, both named after the genus. Female widow spiders have unusually large venom glands, and their bite can be particularly harmful to large vertebrates, including humans.
Spider venoms are a complex collection of toxic agents. Unique to the widows is latrotoxin. The venom acts on nerves causing the massive release of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and GABA. The release of these neurotransmitters leads to pain, cramps, sweating and fast pulse. [13]
Latrodectus mactans, known as southern black widow or simply black widow, and the shoe-button spider, [citation needed] is a venomous species of spider in the genus Latrodectus. The females are well known for their distinctive black and red coloring and for the fact that they will occasionally eat their mates after reproduction.
The redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti), also known as the Australian black widow, [2] [3] [4] is a species of highly venomous spider believed to originate in Australia but now, Southeast Asia and New Zealand, it has also been found in packing crates in the United States with colonies elsewhere outside Australia. [5]
Bites from katipō spiders produce a syndrome known as latrodectism. [18] The venoms of all Latrodectus spiders are thought to contain similar components with the neurotoxin α-latrotoxin being the main agent responsible. [28] [29] Most bites are caused by female spiders; the male katipō was considered too small to cause systemic envenoming in ...
Although the male spider's venom seems to be more potent, male spider bites cause mild transient effects in dogs and cats. Most primates, including humans, appear to be extremely sensitive to the funnel-web spider's venom. [7] The LD 50 in mice of the male spiders crude venom was found to be 11.3 mg/kg. The female spiders venom was found to be ...
Spider potassium channel inhibitory toxins is another group of spider toxins. A representative of this group is hanatoxin , a 35 amino acid peptide toxin which was isolated from Chilean rose tarantula ( Grammostola rosea , syn. G. spatulata ) venom.