272
FINDLAY E. RUSSELL
Where humans are involved, poisoning probably occurs through
deposit of the toxin(s) in the superficial abrasions produced by the
h e , sharp spicules of the sponge. It is well known that traumatic
injury to the human skin can be produced by the spicules, and it is
believed that in many cases of poisoning this occurs prior to the deposit
of the toxin(s) on the skin. Certainly, an abraded skin is more likely to
absorb a toxin than an uninjured one. However, there are clinical cases
of poisoning by sponges in which no traumatic injury was reported.
These cases indicated that the toxin may be absorbed directly through
healthy skin.
The animal appears to be able to cause poisoning either in or out
of the water. The most serious case of poisoning I have observed
involved a 27-year-old skin diver who having abraded the skin of his
hands while collecting stony, but not otherwise dangerous, coral
decided to assist in the packing of freshly caught Tedania nigrescens
(Schmidt) aboard the boat. After handling these animals for approximately 30 min, he complained of an intense burning sensation over the
hands, pruritus and some malaise. When seen 1 hour later the patient
presented systemic manifestations. This case demonstrates that
sponge poisoning can occur on handling the animal after it has been
removed from the water.
“ Sponge fisherman’s disease ” of the eastern Mediterranean
(maladie des p6cheurs d’hponges), described by Zervos (1934), is probably caused by the Actiniae frequently found with sponges. However,
there is clinical evidence to support the contention that some sponges
are capable of producing skin disorders in man. Such disorders are
characterized by localized burning, itching, swelling and edema, and
redness, in the less severe cases, and in addition, systemic manifestations such as malaise, weakness, sweating, nausea, syncope and
parasthesias in the involved extremity in the more severe cases.
B. Chemistry and toxicology
Many sponges have an offensive odor and taste and are rarely, if
ever, eaten by fishes or other marine forms. Some chemical, pharmacological and toxicological investigations have been carried out on
extracts of the whole body of several of these sponges. Among the
species studied to date are Fibulia nolitangere D. and M., Suberites
domunculus (Olivi), Pseudosuberites pseudos, Geodia cydonium (Jameson),
Hippospongia equina (Schmidt), Calyx nicaeensis (Risso), Halichondria
panicea, (Pallas), Hymeniacidon perleve (Montagu), Tethya aurantium
(Pallas), and the fresh-water sponges Ephydatia mulleri (Lieberkuhn),
Spongilla lacustris (L.), and S. fragilis (Leidy).
FINDLAY E. RUSSELL
Where humans are involved, poisoning probably occurs through
deposit of the toxin(s) in the superficial abrasions produced by the
h e , sharp spicules of the sponge. It is well known that traumatic
injury to the human skin can be produced by the spicules, and it is
believed that in many cases of poisoning this occurs prior to the deposit
of the toxin(s) on the skin. Certainly, an abraded skin is more likely to
absorb a toxin than an uninjured one. However, there are clinical cases
of poisoning by sponges in which no traumatic injury was reported.
These cases indicated that the toxin may be absorbed directly through
healthy skin.
The animal appears to be able to cause poisoning either in or out
of the water. The most serious case of poisoning I have observed
involved a 27-year-old skin diver who having abraded the skin of his
hands while collecting stony, but not otherwise dangerous, coral
decided to assist in the packing of freshly caught Tedania nigrescens
(Schmidt) aboard the boat. After handling these animals for approximately 30 min, he complained of an intense burning sensation over the
hands, pruritus and some malaise. When seen 1 hour later the patient
presented systemic manifestations. This case demonstrates that
sponge poisoning can occur on handling the animal after it has been
removed from the water.
“ Sponge fisherman’s disease ” of the eastern Mediterranean
(maladie des p6cheurs d’hponges), described by Zervos (1934), is probably caused by the Actiniae frequently found with sponges. However,
there is clinical evidence to support the contention that some sponges
are capable of producing skin disorders in man. Such disorders are
characterized by localized burning, itching, swelling and edema, and
redness, in the less severe cases, and in addition, systemic manifestations such as malaise, weakness, sweating, nausea, syncope and
parasthesias in the involved extremity in the more severe cases.
B. Chemistry and toxicology
Many sponges have an offensive odor and taste and are rarely, if
ever, eaten by fishes or other marine forms. Some chemical, pharmacological and toxicological investigations have been carried out on
extracts of the whole body of several of these sponges. Among the
species studied to date are Fibulia nolitangere D. and M., Suberites
domunculus (Olivi), Pseudosuberites pseudos, Geodia cydonium (Jameson),
Hippospongia equina (Schmidt), Calyx nicaeensis (Risso), Halichondria
panicea, (Pallas), Hymeniacidon perleve (Montagu), Tethya aurantium
(Pallas), and the fresh-water sponges Ephydatia mulleri (Lieberkuhn),
Spongilla lacustris (L.), and S. fragilis (Leidy).