Between sand and salt: phylogeography of the Australian salt lake wolf spider Lycosa salifodina (Araneae: Lycosidae)

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  Between sand and salt: phylogeography of the Australian salt lake wolf spider Lycosa salifodina (Araneae: Lycosidae) Abstract Australian salt lakes are distinctive ecosystems that support specialized biota and provide opportunities to study evolutionary and biogeographic processes. Many salt lakes occur along ancient river channels (palaeodrainage systems), which form natural replicates for testing hypotheses of vicariance and dispersal among isolated habitats. We examined the phylogeography and genetic structure of the Australian wolf spider Lycosa salifodina McKay, 1976, a salt lake habitat specialist widespread across south-western Australia. We tested the hypothesis that genetic structure in L. salifodina primarily reflects long-term isolation among palaeodrainage systems, with reduced population structuring in more frequently inundated and interconnected lakes. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial CO1 sequences from 26 specimens (collected 2023–2024) recovered three maj...

Holistic Therapy in a Patient with Necrotic Ulcer Caused by the Bite of Brazilian Wandering Spider: A Case Report of Challenging Treatment with Combined Therapies

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By Rodrigo Tetsuo Argenton - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87147373

Holistic Therapy in a Patient with Necrotic Ulcer Caused by the Bite of Brazilian Wandering Spider: A Case Report of Challenging Treatment with Combined Therapies

Abstract

Hard-to-heal wounds remain a significant challenge for healthcare professionals, particularly in aging populations. Although most chronic wounds are associated with diabetes or chronic venous insufficiency, rare etiologies should also be considered. One such cause is envenomation by Phoneutria spp. (native to South America, rare in Europe). Their venom contains potent neurotoxins. While systemic manifestations are more commonly reported, localized necrotic skin lesions may also occur. This case report presents a rare chronic wound following a suspected Phoneutria spider bite and highlights the importance of an individualized, multimodal treatment approach. A 61-year-old male patient with a progressive thigh wound following a spider bite sustained during work. Despite initial self-treatment and pharmacotherapy the wound deteriorated. The patient was admitted to the authors’ facility, where surgical treatment included necrosectomy and a sandwich graft using an acellular dermal matrix combined with a split-thickness skin graft. Adjunctive therapies included negative pressure wound therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. After discharge, outpatient wound care was continued. Treatment was monitored with photographic documentation and serial microperfusion measurements. Complete wound closure was achieved after 4 months of specialized therapy. Management of chronic wounds requires a multidisciplinary and individualized approach with surgical intervention, advanced wound care and specialized outpatient follow-up.

Szatan, M., Słaboń, A., Łach, J., Wielgórecki, A., & Łabuś, W. (2026). Holistic Therapy in a Patient with Necrotic Ulcer Caused by the Bite of Brazilian Wandering Spider: A Case Report of Challenging Treatment with Combined Therapies. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 15(2), 693. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15020693