An outbreak of Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis - Linnaeus, 1758) envenoming in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 46(5):641-644, Sep-Oct, 2013http://dx.doi. org/10.1590/0037-8682-1518-2013 A n outbreak of Portuguese ABSTRACT Introduction: Portuguese man-of-war, Physalia physalis (Linnaeus, 1758), are cnidarians capable of discharging intracellular organelles fi lled with venom, resulting in severe envenomation in humans. Methods: We report the clinical and therapeutic aspects of 331 accidents involving Portuguese man-of-war in an outbreak on the coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Results:The clinical manifestations of envenomation were rare and mild and mostly local, systemic reactions; there was a low rate of late complications. Conclusions: The consequences of envenomation were of moderate severity, and fi rst aid measures were effective in controlling the pain. Outbreaks of accidents involving Portuguese man-of-war occur periodically in the area without a clear explanation.

To Pee, or Not to Pee: A Review on Envenomation and Treatment in European Jellyfish Species

“…Nematocysts are enclosed within cnidocytes. Jellyfish tentacles contain these specialized nematocyst structures, which allow envenomation due to highly coiled tubules armed with spines and is species dependent [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

“…Not all tentacle contact results in a sting, defined as immediate pain plus a rash, as Burnett found there to be a “miss” a third of the time when tentacles came into contact with the skin [ 16 ]. Jellyfish tentacles hold between a few thousand to several billion nematocysts [ 7 , 25 ]. Nematocysts structures are still able to fire when separated from the organism or when the organism is dead [ 18 ].…”

“…Jellyfish have chitin, a structural carbohydrate present in tubule spines, which plays a role in triggering the immune response to jellyfish stings. Human genotypes with poor chitinase-like protein have higher rates of diseases, and therefore result in a more severe reaction to stings due to impaired chitin clearance from polymorphisms in chitin-related genes [ 25 , 26 ]. Persistent rubbing of the envenomed area can lead to lichenification, the process by which skin becomes hardened and leathery.…”

Bioactive toxins from stinging jellyfish

“…Longlasting dermal marks at the site of contact with the tentacle can be observed (Labadie et al, 2012;Haddad et al, 2013). Systemic symptoms are also observed, including respiratory distress, neurological, musculoskeletal, and digestive signs.…”

“…Systemic symptoms are also observed, including respiratory distress, neurological, musculoskeletal, and digestive signs. The prevalence of generalized symptoms varied between 15 and 20% on the French Atlantic coast, in Venezuela, and in Brazil with a peak of 52% in 2010 in France (Labadie et al, 2012;Cazorla-Perfetti et al, 2012;Haddad et al, 2013). Stings from Physalia physalis are the most common type of jellyfish stings in Australia, but systemic symptoms are rarely observed (Tibballs, 2006).…”