Redback spider bite is the most common envenoming in Australia with 5-10,000 human bites occurring annually. Clinical features can be distressing and refractory to symptomatic treatment but not life threatening. Antivenom is curative.
Venom of the Latrodectus genus contains Alpha-latrotoxin. This toxin acts pre-synaptically to open cation channels (including calcium channels) and stimulate the release of multiple motor end-plate neurotransmitters
- Latrodectus hasselti: Redback Spider (Australia)
- Latrodectus katipo: Katipo Spider (New Zealand)
References
- Isbister GK, Brown SGA, Miller M et al. A randomised controlled trial of intramuscular versus intravenous antivenom for lactrodectism – the RAVE study. Quarterly Journal of Medicine 2008; 101:557-565.
- Isbister GK, Gray MR. Lactrodectism: A prospective cohort study of bites by formally identified Redback spiders. Medical Journal of Australia 2003;179:88-91.
- Isbister GK, O’Leary MA, Miller M et al. A comparison of serum antivenom concentrations after intravenous and intramuscular administration of redback (widow) spider antivenom. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2008; 65:138-143.
- Isbister GK, Sibbritt D. Developing a decision tree algorithm for the diagnosis of suspected spider bites. Emergency Medicine Australia 2006;16: 161-166.
About Mike Cadogan
