A new species and a new record of Zoicinae Lehtinen & Hippa, 1979 (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Sumatra Island, with notes on miniaturization in wolf spiders

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  A new species and a new record of Zoicinae Lehtinen & Hippa, 1979 (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Sumatra Island, with notes on miniaturization in wolf spiders Abstract A new species of wolf spider, Zoica veloxilla sp. nov., from Sumatra (Indonesia) is described based on both sexes. Lysania pygmaea Thorell, 1890 is recorded from Sumatra for the first time, and its male is illustrated and redescribed. A distribution map for Zoica and Lysania is provided. The problem of miniaturization in wolf spiders is briefly discussed. Based on an analysis of the literature, 32 minute species of wolf spiders in four subfamilies and eleven genera have been reported. The smallest wolf spider known worldwide seems to be Zoica minuta (McKay, 1979) from Australia. Omelko, M.M. & Fomichev, A.A. (2026) A new species and a new record of Zoicinae Lehtinen & Hippa, 1979 (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Sumatra Island, with notes on miniaturization in wolf spiders. Zootaxa, 5869 (2), 339–350. https://doi.o...

Hyaluronidase activity of Indian ornamental tarantula (Poecilotheria regalis) venom is significantly reduced by commercial Latrodectus mactans and American scorpion antivenoms

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Hyaluronidase activity of Indian ornamental tarantula (Poecilotheria regalis) venom is significantly reduced by commercial Latrodectus mactans and American scorpion antivenoms

Abstract

A recent clinical case involving a Poecilotheria regalis bite was treated with Mexican L. mactans antivenom (Aracmyn Plus, Silanes, Mexico), resulting in the improvement of some of the symptoms. This could be attributed to cross-reactivity caused by structural similarities between certain components of L. mactans and P. regalis venoms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cross-reactivity of P. regalis venom with commercial antivenoms that target the venom of the Latrodectus mactans spider and American scorpions. Hyaluronidase activity was evaluated via a turbidimetric method, while edema was evaluated in rat paw via a histopathological analysis. Cross-reactivity was determined using SDS-PAGE and western blotting. The results obtained showed that both antivenoms significantly reduced the hyaluronidase activity of P. regalis venom and that induced by other tarantula venoms. Aracmyn Plus did not reduce inflammation caused by P. regalis venom. Furthermore, it was previously observed that this antivenom failed to reduce the characteristic muscle cramps induced by this venom. Finally, western blotting revealed that both antivenoms showed cross-reactivity with P. regalis venom. The above findings suggest that hyaluronidases and other high-molecular-weight components exhibit structural similarities across the venoms from different arachnid species.
García-García, M., Mosqueda, J., Escobar-Cabrera, J. E., Murillo-Maldonado, J. M., & José Alejandro, G. (2025). Hyaluronidase activity of Indian ornamental tarantula (Poecilotheria regalis) venom is significantly reduced by commercial Latrodectus mactans and American scorpion antivenoms. Toxicon, 108543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108543