Received: May 18, 2009.

Accepted: July 1, 2009.

Abstract published online: July 7, 2009.

Full paper published online: August 31, 2009.

ENVENOMATION CAUSED BY Latrodectus geometricus IN SÃO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL: A CASE REPORT

Almeida RAMB (1), Ferreira Junior RS (2), Chaves CR (1), Barraviera B (1, 2)

(1) Department of Tropical Diseases and Imaging Diagnosis, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil; (2) The Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals, CEVAP, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: Widow spiders (Latrodectus spp.), also known as "black widows", have a worldwide distribution and can cause latrodectism. To the best of our knowledge, in Brazil, only one case of Latrodectus geometricus (Koch, 1841) envenomation in a human has been reported. The aim of the present report is to describe a spider bite caused by Latrodectus geometricus in a patient who lives in Paranapanema, São Paulo state, Brazil.

KEY WORDS: Latrodectus geometricus, envenomation, latrodectism, brown widow.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict.

CORRESPONDECE TO:

RICARDO AUGUSTO MONTEIRO DE BARROS ALMEIDA, Departamento de Doenças Tropicais e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP, Distrito de Rubião Jr., s/n, Botucatu, SP, 18.618-000, Brasil. Phone: +55 14 3811 6212. Fax: +55 14 3815 9898. Email: ralmeida@fmb.unesp.br.