Author:
González Camila,Ballesteros-Mejia Liliana,Díaz-Díaz Juana,Toro-Vargas Diana M.,Amarillo-Suarez Angela R,Gey Delphine,León Cielo,Tovar Eduardo,Arias Mónica,Rivera Nazario,Buitrago Luz Stella,Pinto-Moraes Roberto H,Sano Martins Ida S.,Decaëns Thibaud,González Mailyn A,Kitching Ian J,Rougerie Rodolphe
Abstract
AbstractCaterpillars of the Neotropical genus Lonomia (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) are responsible for some fatal envenomation of humans in South America inducing hemostatic disturbances in patients upon skin contact with the caterpillars’ spines. Currently, only two species have been reported to cause hemorrhagic syndromes in humans: Lonomia achelous and Lonomia obliqua. However, species identifications have remained largely unchallenged despite improved knowledge of venom diversity and growing evidence that the taxonomy used over past decades misrepresents and underestimates species diversity. Here, we revisit the taxonomy and distribution of Lonomia using the most extensive dataset assembled to date, combining DNA barcodes, morphological comparisons, and geographical information. Our integrative approach leads to the recognition of 60 species, of which seven are known or strongly suspected to cause severe envenomation in humans. From a newly compiled synthesis of epidemiological data, we also examine the consequences of our results for understanding Lonomia envenomation risks and call for further investigations of other species’ venom activities. This is required and necessary to improve alertness in areas at risk, and to define adequate treatment strategies for envenomed patients, including performing species identification and assessing the efficacy of anti-Lonomia serums against a broader diversity of species.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory