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PubMed1992

[Transcatheter embolization for huge pulmonary arteriovenous fistula using metallic "spider" and spring embolus--application of hand-made metallic "spider" using partial monorail technique].

We performed transcatheter embolization in two cases with huge pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (AVF) using a metallic "spider" and spring embolus. Conventional spring embolus or detachable balloon could not be used in these cases. Metallic spider was indicated for pulmonary AVF with a feeding artery diameter of more than 16 mm to prevent embolus passing through the AVF. In the first case, we used large handmade metallic spiders of 25 mm in diameter followed by embolization by numerous spring coils. At that time, a partial monorail technique was newly devised to carry the large metallic spider into the feeding artery, otherwise the spider could not pass into a 9F catheter. After embolization, symptoms and PaO2 in arterial blood improved remarkably in both cases. In the second case, a spring coil migrated into the normal pulmonary artery, but no infarction resulted. In conclusion, the metallic spider was very useful for embolization of hugee pulmonary AVF to avoid the embolus passing through and to tangle spring coils together with it. If commercially available "spiders" are too small, ones can be made easily.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Differential UCS expectancy bias in spider fearful individuals: evidence toward an association between spiders and disgust-relevant outcomes.

Recently, differential UCS expectancies were found for high- and low-predatory fear-relevant animals [Davey, G. C. L., Cavanagh, K., & Lamb, A. (2003). Differential aversive outcome expectancies for high- and low-predation fear-relevant animals. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 34, 117-128]. The present study extends these findings to spider phobia. In a hypothetical experiment, high (n = 27) and low (n = 28) spider fearful individuals estimated the probability that slides of spiders, maggots, pit bull terriers, or rabbits would be followed by a sip of nauseating juice, a shock, or nothing. Maggots were selectively associated with the disgusting juice, pit bull terriers with the harm-related shock, and rabbits with nothing. Spiders were associated with both aversive UCSs, but significantly stronger in the high fear group. Additionally, an expectancy bias toward disgust-relevant consequences was the single best predictor of spider fear. These findings imply that in accordance with the disease-avoidance model, expectations of disgust-relevant consequences are involved in spider phobia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Diagnoses of brown recluse spider bites (loxoscelism) greatly outnumber actual verifications of the spider in four western American states.

We attempt to demonstrate that physicians overdiagnose loxoscelism (colloquially known as 'brown recluse spider bites') by comparing the numbers of such diagnoses to the historically known numbers of Loxosceles spiders from the same areas in four western American states. The medical community from non-endemic Loxosceles areas often makes loxoscelism diagnoses solely on the basis of dermonecrotic lesions where Loxosceles spiders are rare or non-existent. If these diagnoses were correct then Loxosceles populations should be evident, specimens should readily be collected over the years and there should be a reasonable correlation between diagnoses and spider specimens. In 41 months of data collection, we were informed of 216 loxoscelism diagnoses from California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado. In contrast, from these four states, we can only find historical evidence of 35 brown recluse or Mediterranean recluse spiders. There is no consistency between localities of known Loxosceles populations and loxoscelism diagnoses. There are many conditions of diverse etiology that manifest in dermonecrosis. In the western United States, physician familiarity with these conditions will lead to more accurate diagnoses and subsequent proper remedy.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Manipulating perceptions of spider characteristics and predicted spider fear: evidence for the cognitive vulnerability model of the etiology of fear.

The present study reports on an attempt to experimentally manipulate perceptions of uncontrollability, unpredictability and dangerousness related to an imaginal encounter with a spider in order to determine whether there is an effect on self-rated predicted spider fear. Experimental manipulations involved differing information in relation to both the spider and the imaginal task. The control, predictability and dangerousness manipulations all had significant main effects on task-related spider fear (TRSF). Measures of the perception of the spiders as uncontrollable, unpredictable and dangerous were also significantly associated with TRSF and accounted for 42% of the variance in predicted fear beyond that accounted for by the experimental manipulations. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for better understanding the etiology and maintenance of fear. The overall findings are consistent with the cognitive vulnerability model, with cognitive perceptions of an object or situation seen as causal determinants of the fear associated with the stimulus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

36 cases of bites by spiders, including the white-tailed spider, Lampona cylindrata.

Thirty-six cases of bites by spiders are reported; in all cases, the spider was identified. No cases resulted in the formation of local ulcers, in necrosis, or in serious systemic symptoms. Eight bites by Lampona cylindrata, the white-tailed spider, caused a mild sting to sharp pain of short duration, itchiness, erythema, local swelling or a lump, and either no systemic symptoms, or anxiety. Five bites by Badumna insignis, the black house-spider, caused local pain, erythema, swelling, and no systemic symptoms, or anxiety, or chest pain and shortness of breath of mild degree and of short duration. The other spiders to be reported as causing bites were Hadronyche adelaidensis, Misgolas andrewsi, Aganippe subtristis, Olios calligaster, Isopeda pessleri, Eriophora sp., Phonognatha graeffei, Holoplatys sp., Breda jovialis, Opisthoncus sp., Lycosa sp. and Achaearanea tepidariorum.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Spiders and spider bites.

The only spiders of real medical importance to humans in the United States are the Loxosceles and Latrodectus species, primarily the brown recluse and the black window, respectively. These spiders bite humans only when trapped or crushed against the skin. Severe brown recluse spider bites produce dermonecrosis within 72-96 hours, which should be treated with rest, ice compresses, antibiotics, dapsone, and surgery delayed for several weeks. Using systemic corticosteroids may be helpful in treating the much rarer systemic loxoscelism, which has minimal skin changes but produces massive hemolysis. Black widow bites do not produce marked skin changes but primarily produce muscle cramping, pain, and other neuromuscular-related symptoms. Though a specific antivenin for black widow bites is available, pain control, muscle relaxants, and calcium gluconate are generally adequate treatment. Many other spiders inflict painful bites, but arachnids do not medically deserve the bad reputation that they generally have with the public.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Characterization and some properties of the venom gland extract of a theridiid spider (Steatoda paykulliana) frequently mistaken for black widow spider (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus).

The simplified purification protocol established for the isolation of alpha-latrotoxin from the venom of the spider Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, has been employed for the purification of toxic components present in the venom of the spider Steatoda paykulliana. The venom of this spider, frequently mistaken for L. tredecimguttatus, is by tradition considered to cause an envenomation potentially dangerous to man. The venom of S. paykulliana has little toxic effect on guinea-pigs but is extremely toxic to houseflies (Musca domestica). No proteolytic activity was detectable. Interaction of microgram/ml amounts of the venom extract with artificial lipid membranes produces an increase of membrane conductance through the formation of stable ion-permeable channels modulated by the direction and size of the electric potential differences across the membrane. Higher concentrations of this venom are able to stimulate the release of transmitters from neurosecretory cells in a fashion reminiscent of black widow spider venom. Antibodies against the whole L. tredecimguttatus venom gave a few positive cross-reactions in the immunodiffusion test with S. paykulliana venom gland extract indicating the presence of common molecular sequences in the two venoms. Polyclonal antibodies against alpha-latrotoxin did not cross-react in the immunodiffusion test with S. paykulliana venom extracts, nor in the immunofluorescence assay with its cephalothorax sections, thus suggesting that the venom glands do not contain alpha-latrotoxin. A partial characterization of S. paykulliana venom has been performed and a high molecular weight protein toxic to houseflies has been partially purified.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Specific predictive power of automatic spider-related affective associations for controllable and uncontrollable fear responses toward spiders.

This study examined the predictive power of automatically activated spider-related affective associations for automatic and controllable fear responses. The Extrinsic Affective Simon Task (EAST; De Houwer, 2003) was used to indirectly assess automatic spider fear-related associations. The EAST and the Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ) were used to predict fear responses in 48 female students from Maastricht University with varying levels of spider fear. Results showed that: (i) the EAST best predicted automatic fear responses, whereas (ii) the FSQ best predicted strategic avoidance behavior. These results suggest that indirect measures of automatic associations may have specific predictive power for automatic fear responses.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Oxyopinins, large amphipathic peptides isolated from the venom of the wolf spider Oxyopes kitabensis with cytolytic properties and positive insecticidal cooperativity with spider neurotoxins.

Five amphipathic peptides with antimicrobial, hemolytic, and insecticidal activity were isolated from the crude venom of the wolf spider Oxyopes kitabensis. The peptides, named oxyopinins, are the largest linear cationic amphipathic peptides from the venom of a spider that have been chemically characterized at present. According to their primary structure Oxyopinin 1 is composed of 48 amino acid residues showing extended sequence similarity to the ant insecticidal peptide ponericinL2 and to the frog antimicrobial peptide dermaseptin. Oxyopinins 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d have highly similar sequences. At least 27 out of 37 amino acid residues are conserved. They also show a segment of sequence similar to ponericinL2. Circular dichroism analyses showed that the secondary structure of the five peptides is essentially alpha-helical. Oxyopinins showed disrupting activities toward both biological membranes and artificial vesicles, particularly to those rich in phosphatidylcholine. Electrophysiological recordings performed on insect cells (Sf9) showed that the oxyopinins produce a drastic reduction of cell membrane resistance by opening non-selective ion channels. Additionally, a new paralytic neurotoxin named Oxytoxin 1 was purified from the same spider venom. It contains 69 amino acid residue cross-linked by five disulfide bridges. Application of mixtures containing oxyopinins and Oxytoxin 1 to insect larvae showed a potentiation phenomenon, by which an increase lethality effect is observed. These results suggest that the linear amphipathic peptides in spider venoms and neuropeptides cooperate to capture insects efficiently.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Clinical and in vitro evidence for the efficacy of Australian red-back spider (Latrodectus hasselti) antivenom in the treatment of envenomation by a Cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa).

We report the case of a 22-year-old female who was bitten on the shoulder by a spider subsequently identified as a female Cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa). She developed nausea, vomiting, and severe local and regional pain, similar to that seen in latrodectism. Symptoms were treated successfully with red-back spider antivenom (RBSAV). We also present in vitro data, which supports this clinical observation, and suggests that S. grossa venom is immunogenically reactive with both RBSAV and latrotoxin (LTx)-specific antibodies by Western blotting. Moreover, the effects of S. grossa venom on the isolated chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation are dose-dependent and similar to those seen with Latrodectus spp. venoms. S. grossa venom produced a sustained muscle contracture which could be prevented by pre-incubation of venom with RBSAV. Venom effects could also be reversed by the addition of antivenom after application of venom to the preparation. Although severe envenomation is uncommon following the bite of Steatoda spp. it may resemble latrodectism. These results indicate that RBSAV is likely to be effective in reversing symptoms of envenomation and should be considered in the treatment of patients with distressing or persisting symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Seasonal occurrence of specialist and generalist insect predators of spider mites and their response to volatiles from spider-mite-infested plants in Japanese pear orchards.

In two adjacent Japanese pear orchards (orchards I and 2), we studied the seasonal occurrence of the Kanzawa spider mite. Tetranychus kanzawai, and its predators. Also the response of these predators to the volatiles from kidney bean plants infested with T kanzawai was investigated using trap boxes in orchard 1. The mite density in orchard 1 was unimodal. with one peak at the end of August. In this orchard, population development of the specialist insect predators, Scolothrips takahashii, Oligota kashmiria benefica and Stethorus japonicus was almost synchronized with that of the spider mites. These predators disappeared when the density of their prey became very low in mid-September. Both S. takahashii and O. kashmirica benefica abruptly increased in number in orchard 2 when the spider mite population in orchard 1 decreased. These results suggested that some of the predators migrated from orchard 1 to orchard 2. In this period, predator-traps with T kanzawai-infested bean plants attracted significantly more S. takahashii than traps with uninfested plants. Very few individuals of S. japonicus and O. kashimirica benefica were found in the traps, despite their abundance in orchard 1. The generalist insect predator, Orius sp., was attracted to the traps throughout the experimental period irrespective of the density of spider mites, although this predator was never observed inside the orchards.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

CSTX-9, a toxic peptide from the spider Cupiennius salei: amino acid sequence, disulphide bridge pattern and comparison with other spider toxins containing the cystine knot structure.

CSTX-9 (68 residues, 7530.9 Da) is one of the most abundant toxic polypeptides in the venom of the wandering spider Cupiennius salei. The amino acid sequence was determined by Edman degradation using reduced and alkylated CSTX-9 and peptides generated by cleavages with endoproteinase Asp-N and trypsin, respectively. Sequence comparison with CSTX-1, the most abundant and the most toxic polypeptide in the crude spider venom, revealed a high degree of similarity (53% identity). By means of limited proteolysis with immobilised trypsin and RP-HPLC, the cystine-containing peptides of CSTX-9 were isolated and the disulphide bridges were assigned by amino acid analysis, Edman degradation and nanospray tandem mass spectrometry. The four disulphide bonds present in CSTX-9 are arranged in the following pattern: 1-4, 2-5, 3-8 and 6-7 (Cys6-Cys21, Cys13-Cys30, Cys20-Cys48, Cys32-Cys46). Sequence comparison of CSTX-1 with CSTX-9 clearly indicates the same disulphide bridge pattern, which is also found in other spider polypeptide toxins, e.g. agatoxins (omega-AGA-IVA, omega-AGA-IVB, mu-AGA-I and mu-AGA-VI) from Agelenopsis aperta, SNX-325 from Segestria florentina and curtatoxins (CT-I, CT-II and CT-III) from Hololena curta. CSTX-1/CSTX-9 belong to the family of ion channel toxins containing the inhibitor cystine knot structural motif. CSTX-9, lacking the lysine-rich C-terminal tail of CSTX-1, exhibits a ninefold lower toxicity to Drosophila melanogaster than CSTX-1. This is in accordance with previous observations of CSTX-2a and CSTX-2b, two truncated forms of CSTX-1 which, like CSTX-9, also lack the C-terminal lysine-rich tail.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Mass spectrometric structure determination of spider toxins: arginine-containing acylpolyamines from venoms of Brazilian garden spider Nephilengys cruentata.

A new strategy to characterize glutaminergic blocker acylpolymines stored in a spider venom with mass spectrometry is described. The crude spider venom extracts are amenable to direct MALDI mass spectrometry analysis which provides a rapid and accurate means of measuring the molecular weights of acylpolyamines without the isolation of individual samples. Compared with the previously developed mu-column HPLC/MS method, this procedure provides more efficient detection and identification of complex venom constituents. Twenty-five acylpolyamines were detected from Brazilian garden spider Nephilengys cruentata crude venom extracts by both HPLC/MS and MALDI-mass spectrometry. These acylpolyamine structures were determined by high-energy collision induced dissociation MS/MS method. Most of the compounds were classified into the previously reported generalized structures types A to D, which were found from the venom of Nephilengys borbonica. The structures of four acylpolyamines (M + H)+, m/z 623, 646, 688, and 745, which were not contained in the venom of Nephilengys borbonicare were determined to have arginine at the polyamine chain terminal and were named NPTX-622, -645, -687, and -744, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Interpopulation variation in the risk-related decisions of Portia labiata, an araneophagic jumping spider (Araneae, Salticidae), during predatory sequences with spitting spiders.

The extent to which decision-making processes are constrained in animals with small brains is poorly understood. Arthropods have brains much smaller and simpler than those of birds and mammals. This raises questions concerning limitations on how intricate the decision-making processes might be in arthropods. At Los Baños in the Philippines, Scytodes pallidus is a spitting spider that specialises in preying on jumping spiders, and Portia labiata is a jumping spider that preys on S. pallidus. Scytodid spit comes from the mouth, and egg-carrying females are less dangerous than eggless scytodids because the female uses her chelicerae to hold her eggs. Held eggs block her mouth, and she has to release them before she can spit. The Los Baños P. labiata sometimes adjusts its tactics depending on whether the scytodid encountered is carrying eggs or not. When pursuing eggless scytodids, the Los Baños P. labiata usually takes detour routes that enable it to close in from behind (away from the scytodid's line of fire). However, when pursuing egg-carrying scytodids, the Los Baños P. labiata sometimes takes faster direct routes to reach these safer prey. The Los Baños P. labiata apparently makes risk-related adjustments specific to whether scytodids are carrying eggs, but P. labiata from Sagada in the Philippines (allopatric to Scytodes) fails to make comparable risk-related adjustments.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Regulation of the number of spiders participating in collective prey transport in the social spider Anelosimus eximius (Araneae, Theridiidae).

In an experimental study, mechanisms by which cooperative prey transport is achieved in social spiders were clarified. Factors that could influence the number of individuals that participate in prey transport (prey mass, length and vibration) were investigated. Results show that two factors are fundamental: the vibrations and the prey length. Prey mass did not seem to influence spiders' participation. Thus, the single fact that individuals respond locally to environmental stimuli (intensity of vibration, available site on the prey) explains how spiders cooperate and efficiently capture a wide range of prey types without complex communication systems.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Complete hemocyanin subunit sequences of the hunting spider Cupiennius salei: recent hemocyanin remodeling in entelegyne spiders.

Hemocyanins are large copper-containing respiratory proteins found in many arthropod species. Scorpions and orthognath spiders possess a highly conserved 4 x 6-mer hemocyanin that consists of at least seven distinct subunit types (termed a to g). However, many "modern" entelegyne spiders such as Cupiennius salei differ from the standard arachnid scheme and have 2 x 6-mer hemocyanins. Here we report the complete primary structure of the 2 x 6-mer hemocyanin of C. salei as deduced from cDNA sequencing, gel electrophoresis, and matrix-assisted laser desorption spectroscopy. Six distinct subunit types (1 through 6) and three additional allelic sequences were identified. Each 1 x 6-mer half-molecule most likely is composed of subunits 1-6, with subunit 1 linking the two hexamers via a disulfide bridge located in a C-terminal extension. The C. salei hemocyanin subunits all belong to the arachnid g-type, whereas the other six types (a-f) have been lost in evolution. The reconstruction of a complex hemocyanin from a single g-type subunit, which commenced about 190 million years ago and was completed about 90 million years ago, might be explained by physiological and behavioral changes that occurred during the evolution of the entelegyne spiders.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

A derived transfer of simple discrimination and self-reported arousal functions in spider fearful and non-spider-fearful participants.

Two experiments investigated the derived transfer of functions through equivalence relations established using a stimulus pairing observation procedure. In Experiment 1, participants were trained on a simple discrimination (A1+/A2-) and then a stimulus pairing observation procedure was used to establish 4 stimulus pairings (A1-B1, A2-B2, B1-C1, B2-C2). Subsequently, a transfer of the simple discrimination functions through equivalence relations was observed (e.g., C1+/C2-). These procedures were modified in Experiment 2, which demonstrated that spider-fearful and non-spider-fearful participants show differing levels of a transfer of self-reported arousal functions for stimuli used in equivalence relations with video-based material depicting scenes with spiders. The results demonstrate that the stimulus pairing observation procedure provides a viable alternative to matching-to-sample, and also offer tentative support for a derived-relations model of the acquisition of anxiety responses in at least one sub-clinical population.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Expression patterns of a twist-related gene in embryos of the spider Achaearanea tepidariorum reveal divergent aspects of mesoderm development in the fly and spider.

We cloned an Achaearanea tepidariorum (Chelicerata, Arachnida) gene related to Drosophila twist (twi), which encodes a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor required to specify mesoderm fate in the Drosophila embryo. The cloned spider gene was designated At.twist (At.twi). We examined its expression by whole-mount in situ hybridization. At.twi transcripts were first detected in cells located at the polar and equatorial areas of the spherical embryo when the cumulus reached the equator. As the extra-embryonic area expanded, more cells expressed At.twi transcripts. The At.twi-expressing cells became distributed nearly uniformly in the embryonic area. At these stages, some At.twi-expressing cells were found in the surface epithelial cell layer, but other At.twi-expressing cells were at slightly deeper positions from the surface. When the embryo was transformed into a germ band, all At.twi-expressing cells were situated just beneath the surface ectoderm, where they became metamerically arranged. Although little expression was observed in the caudal lobe of the elongating germ band, new stripes of At.twi expression appeared beneath the ectoderm in accordance with the posterior growth. These observations suggested that the cells expressing At.twi were most likely mesoderm. We propose that At.twi can be used as a molecular marker for analyzing mesoderm development in the spider embryo. Moreover, comparison of the expression patterns of twi and At.twi revealed divergent aspects of mesoderm development in the fly and spider. In addition, we cloned an Achaearanea gene related to snail, which is another mesoderm-determining gene in Drosophila, and showed that its expression was restricted to the ectoderm with no indication for a role in mesoderm development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗