2017/10/26 by John P. Dunbar, Sam Afoullouss, Ronan Sulpice +1 · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies #Beetle Biology and Toxicology Studies #Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
paper · doi:10.1080/15563650.2017.1393084
openalex publication_date 2017/10/26 · openalex created_date 2017/11/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
OBJECTIVE: The noble false widow Steatoda nobilis is the only medically significant spider known to occur in the British Isles and Ireland, with a single case of steatodism ever reported from Great Britain. We present here five new cases of envenomations by S. nobilis, three from Ireland and two from Great Britain and describe symptoms not previously reported for the genus Steatoda. CASE PRESENTATION: Four adult males and one adult female with confirmed S. nobilis bites reported their symptoms to the authors. General practitioner chart was obtained for case #3. In all five cases, envenomations were immediately followed by a sharp and prolonged onset of pain, mild to extensive erythema and localised to extensive swelling around the bite site. Additional symptoms include moderate to intense pruritus, vasodilation of the capillaries around the bite site and a possible minor necrotic wound. CONCLUSION: In all cases, symptoms subsided within 48-72 h and no further complications were reported. Envenomations by S. nobilis seem to produce symptoms similar (but not identical) to those previously reported from other Steatoda sp. Considering their benign outcome, envenomations by S. nobilis should still be regarded as of moderate medical importance, requiring monitoring and pain management strategies.