VENOM OF A 6-EYED CRAB SPIDER, SICARIUS-TESTACEUS (PURCELL, 1908), CAUSES NECROTIC AND HEMORRHAGIC LESIONS IN THE RABBIT

By employing haematological, histological and isotope studies on rabbi t, it was shown that envenomation by the South African crab spider, Si carius testaceus, results in tissue necrosis and a marked increase in the permeability of the blood vessels in the vicinity of envenomation. The venom also acts systemically, which results in petechial bleeding of some viscera, thrombocytopaenia and elevated fibrinogen levels. Ra bbit envenomation by this species results in a dramatic drop of the pl atelet count, without haemolytic anaemia. Should these parameters be t he same in humans, they may serve as a yardstick to distinguish presum ptive S. testaceus envenomation from that of Loxosceles. (C) 1997 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.