Arácnido Taxonomy

  Image Credit: Wikipedia Antivenom Therapy for Medically Important Spiders in the United States Luis A. Roque Arácnido Taxonomy Black widow envenomation caused by Latrodectus spp. can be managed with targeted antivenom therapy, whereas no equivalent approved therapy exists for brown recluse envenomation caused by Loxosceles spp. This contrast reflects the uneven development of spider-venom therapeutics in the United States. Introductory summary. In the United States, severe black widow envenomation can be treated with a targeted antivenom, whereas no comparable approved therapy exists for brown recluse envenomation (Clark et al., 1992; Swanson and Vetter, 2005). This disparity reflects differences in venom biology, therapeutic development, and the quality of available clinical evidence. Clinical Context Spiders occupy an important place in natural ecosystems, and only a small number are associated with medically significant bites in the United States. Most suspected spider bite...