Hidden in the wrack: spider (Arachnida, Araneae) diversity and new records for Italy from Posidonia banquettes

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  Hidden in the wrack: spider (Arachnida, Araneae) diversity and new records for Italy from Posidonia banquettes ABSTRACT Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile beach wrack deposits (banquettes) are a characteristic coastal habitat of the Mediterranean Sea, yet their invertebrate communities remain poorly studied. Here we report the results of a survey from January to November 2024 of the spider fauna (Order Araneae) associated with Posidonia banquettes at Sant’Agostino beach (Civitavecchia, Latium, central Italy), using four complementary sampling methods (surface and underground pitfall traps, Berlese-Tullgren funnel extraction, and visual census). A total of 161 specimens were collected, with 17 species assigned to 11 families among adult individuals. The dominant families were Argyronetidae (39.4%), represented exclusively by Chaerea maritimus Simon, 1885, and Gnaphosidae (33.8%). Three species are recorded for the first time in Italy: Dysdera gamarrae Ferrández 1984, Gnaphosa jucu...

Fatal Bothrops atrox snakebite with thrombotic microangiopathy, hemorrhagic stroke and acute kidney injury

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By Darío De la Fuente - https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/113840233, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=129474300

Fatal Bothrops atrox snakebite with thrombotic microangiopathy, hemorrhagic stroke and acute kidney injury

Abstract

Bothrops atrox is responsible for most snakebite envenomations in the Amazon region. Its venom induces systemic hemostatic disturbances and local tissue damage, potentially leading to severe complications. This report describes a fatal case of B. atrox envenomation in a 53-year-old male with a history of hypertension and alcoholism. The patient presented with persistent incoagulable blood, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and progressive renal dysfunction. These findings were consistent with venom-induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC) associated with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). He subsequently developed intracranial hemorrhage, the autopsy revealed a confirmed subarachnoid hemorrhage, and acute kidney injury (AKI), which contributed to systemic decompensation. Postmortem findings included subarachnoid hemorrhage, acute tubular necrosis, hepatic steatosis, and fibrin thrombi in cutaneous vessels. This case highlights the potential for severe systemic involvement in Bothrops atrox envenomation, particularly in patients with preexisting comorbidities, and underscores the need for early recognition of complications such as VICC and TMA to guide appropriate clinical management.
Duarte, L. R. A., Carvalho, É., Melo, T. F. C., Barbosa, F. B. A., De Andrade, R. V., Sartim, M., Araújo, F. Q., Sachett, J., Pivoto, G., De Lima Ferreira, L. C., & Monteiro, W. (2025). Fatal Bothrops atrox snakebite with thrombotic microangiopathy, hemorrhagic stroke and acute kidney injury. Toxicon, 268, 108610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108610