Jellyfish envenomation

Table I. Important Disorders Produced by Jellyfish Envenomation...

All the jellyfish venoms are toxic but also stimulate the cell mediated and humoral immunological systems of man. After injection of large doses of jellyfish venom into human skin, a perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration appears within the dermis. This infiltration is composed predominantly of helper inducer cells which produce suppressor activity. It appears that the NK enhancement of human leukocytes in patients envenomated by Chrysaora quinquecirrha is depressed when the clinical lesion is inflammatory (10). Recovery from this suppression follows the amelioration of the acute cutaneous reaction. In other instances, envenomated patients have abnormal macrophage migration tests (11). 

Burnett JW Medical aspects of jellyfish envenomation Pathogenesis, case reporting and therapy, Hydrobiologia 451 1—9, 2001. 

Relative to treatment of snake, spider, scorpion, and other terrestrial animal envenomatlons, the treatment of most envenomatlons due to marine animals is rather primitive. This is primarily due to our knowledge of these venoms being less complete. The incidence of jellyfish envenomation amongst... 

Coelenterate (cnidarian) toxins are found in venomous jellyfish and sea anemones. They produce not only severe pain, but also contact dermatitis that may include hemolysis and scarification. Some jellyfish envenomations are fatal, to include stings by both large (Chironex fleckeri) and small (Carukia barnesi) Australian box jellyfish (Watters, 2006a). Anaphylaxis may occur with species that have less toxic venoms. Prevention from envenomation by those who enter the marine environment is therefore clinically important. 

Burnett JW, Calton GJ, Burnett HW (1986a) Jellyfish envenom-ation syndromes. J Am Dermatol 14 100-106 Burnett JW, Calton GJ, Morgan RJ (1986b) Venomous sea urchins. Cutis 38 151... 

There are a host of marine organisms capable of injuring the skin (Fisher 1995). The professional diver is usually aware of how to avoid these and is also protected by a dive suit and, often, gloves. Even so, dermatitis can result from envenomation of exposed skin by a wide range of jellyfish and anemones (Manowitz and Rosenthal 1979). The eruptions are usually linear and are caused by the venomous discharge of nematocysts present on tentacles and triggered by frictional contact. 

Endean, R., and J. Rifkin Envenomation Involving Nematocysts of the Box Jellyfish Chironex fleckeri. Toxicon Suppl. 3, 115 (1983). 

Tibballs, J. (2006) Australian venomous jellyfish, envenomation syndromes, toxins and therapy. Toxicon, 48, 830-859. 

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