290
FINDLAY E. RUSSELL
which differs principally from holothurin in its sugar moieties. The toxin
is lethal to Fundulus heteroclitus in solutions of 1 ppm. The Atlantic
starfish, Asterius forbesi (Desor), which also contains a holothurin-like
toxic substance, is resistant to the sunburst starfish toxin.
C. Clinical problem
Traumatic injuries of the skin by the spines of sea urchins without
envenomation are well known. Tripneustes ventricosus (Lamarck), the
white sea urchin of the West Indies, has been implicated in numerous
injuries to humans and must be handled with considerable care. The
spines of this species, as well as many others, are extremely brittle.
They may break off in a puncture wound causing considerable local
reaction, and if not removed often give rise to infection. Some spines
are absorbed within 16 to 48 h, whereas others may need to be removed
surgically. Both the venomous and nonvenomous spines can give rise
to granulomatous nodular lesions.
Injuries by pedicellariae, and certain of the spines of sea urchins,
give rise to immediate intense pain, localized swelling and redness
about the wound, an aching sensation in the involved part, nausea and
syncopy; and in the more severe cases, difficulties in respiration,
parasthesia about the mouth with some atonia of the muscles of the lips,
tongue, larynx and eyelids, and sometimes the muscles of the limbs.
I n the most severe cases these symptoms and signs develop more rapidly.
Complete atonia and ataxia may occur, and the victim may experience
severe respiratory distress. The agonal period last 1 to 14 h, usually
without subsequent complications.
Occasional, acute gastric
distress with nausea and vomiting have been reported following the
ingestion of certain toxic sea cucumbers. The symptoms are usually
of short duration and without serious sequelae. Pruritus with mild
swelling and redness of the hands has been reported following the
handling of some holothurians. Acute conjunctivitis has been observed
in persons who have swum in waters polluted with the tissue extracts
of toxic sea cucumbers.
Poisonings by Holothuroidea are rare.
VI. MOLLUSCA
There are approximately 80000 species of molluscs, of which
about eighty-five have been implicated in poisoning to man or are
known to be toxic under certain conditions. A number of other molluscan species are potentially dangerous, or are suspected of being venomous or poisonous to man or other animals. The majority of the
poisonous or venomous species are found in three of the five families
FINDLAY E. RUSSELL
which differs principally from holothurin in its sugar moieties. The toxin
is lethal to Fundulus heteroclitus in solutions of 1 ppm. The Atlantic
starfish, Asterius forbesi (Desor), which also contains a holothurin-like
toxic substance, is resistant to the sunburst starfish toxin.
C. Clinical problem
Traumatic injuries of the skin by the spines of sea urchins without
envenomation are well known. Tripneustes ventricosus (Lamarck), the
white sea urchin of the West Indies, has been implicated in numerous
injuries to humans and must be handled with considerable care. The
spines of this species, as well as many others, are extremely brittle.
They may break off in a puncture wound causing considerable local
reaction, and if not removed often give rise to infection. Some spines
are absorbed within 16 to 48 h, whereas others may need to be removed
surgically. Both the venomous and nonvenomous spines can give rise
to granulomatous nodular lesions.
Injuries by pedicellariae, and certain of the spines of sea urchins,
give rise to immediate intense pain, localized swelling and redness
about the wound, an aching sensation in the involved part, nausea and
syncopy; and in the more severe cases, difficulties in respiration,
parasthesia about the mouth with some atonia of the muscles of the lips,
tongue, larynx and eyelids, and sometimes the muscles of the limbs.
I n the most severe cases these symptoms and signs develop more rapidly.
Complete atonia and ataxia may occur, and the victim may experience
severe respiratory distress. The agonal period last 1 to 14 h, usually
without subsequent complications.
Occasional, acute gastric
distress with nausea and vomiting have been reported following the
ingestion of certain toxic sea cucumbers. The symptoms are usually
of short duration and without serious sequelae. Pruritus with mild
swelling and redness of the hands has been reported following the
handling of some holothurians. Acute conjunctivitis has been observed
in persons who have swum in waters polluted with the tissue extracts
of toxic sea cucumbers.
Poisonings by Holothuroidea are rare.
VI. MOLLUSCA
There are approximately 80000 species of molluscs, of which
about eighty-five have been implicated in poisoning to man or are
known to be toxic under certain conditions. A number of other molluscan species are potentially dangerous, or are suspected of being venomous or poisonous to man or other animals. The majority of the
poisonous or venomous species are found in three of the five families