Bite envenomation by Latrodectus geometricus (Araneae: Theridiidae) spiders in Malaysia

Mokhtar AS 1 , Muslimin M 2 , Mat-Saat AY 2 , Ghazali AM 3 , Ismail AK 4 , Abdul-Aziz NM 3

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Jalan Batu Hampar, 75150 Bukit Baru, Mela ka, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Medical Science & Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, PICOMS International University College, 50400 Kuala Lu mpur, Malaysia
  • 3 Invertebrate & Vertebrate Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Ku ala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Trop Biomed, 2021 Dec 01;38(4):568-577.
PMID: 35001923 DOI: 10.47665/tb.38.4.100

Abstract

We report two confirmed human bite cases by Lactrodectus geometricus , also known as the brown widow spider. These are the first reported bite envenomation incidents by L. geometricus in Malaysia. The incidents occurred in Tawau, Sabah and Paka, Terengganu. Both men were bitten on their ear while putting on motorcycle helmets. The spiders appeared to have nested in the helmets. The dead specimens were collected and sent to the Invertebrate and Vertebrate Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Universiti Malaya for identification. The species identity was confirmed by DNA barcoding.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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