Spider bite envenomation on Reunion Island

Abstract

AbstractSpiders are the most abundant group of predators within the Earths ecosystems. On Reunion Island, there are up to 200 known species of spiders. However, the description of the envenomation by the bites of some local spiders have never performed. The objective of this study was to describe the representation of the health risks associated to the six spider species present on the island. The following species were described within the local arachnofauna: Latrodectus geometricus C. L. Koch, 1841 (Theridiidae), Steatoda grossa (C. L. Koch, 1838) (Theridiidae), Loxosceles rufescens (Dufour, 1820) (Sicariidae), Cheiracanthium insulare (Vinson, 1863) (Cheiracanthiidae), Cheiracanthium africanum Lessert, 1921 (Cheiracanthiidae) and Heteropoda venatoria (Linnaeus, 1767) (Sparasidae). This study constituted a first approach to the pathologies encountered by local venomous spider bites. To date, no recorded cases of envenomation linked to these species have been made so far. Some of the species or close species were documented in international literature as responsible for envenomation cases, however, future research should be taken in order to better inform and prepare healthcare professionals within the Reunion Island hospital services to deal with patients with spider bite cases.