Skin histopathology in fatal jellyfish stingingстатья из журнала
Аннотация: The histopathology of the skin lesion is studied in two cases of fatal jellyfish stinging in north Queensland. Details of the circumstances, the clinical observations preceding death and subsequent postmortem reports are given. Sections of the skin appropriately stained and examined showed numerous nematocysts on the surface of the skin, the threads of which had penetrated through to the dermis. The stratum corneum appeared oedematous with its layers separated. The Malpighian layer was thinned and its cells degenerate, with pyknotic nuclei. There were no obvious changes in the deeper layers. The surface nematocysts were demonstrable by suitable illumination, or by silver impregnation as in reticulum techniques. They were identified as microbasic mastigophores. These were unusually large and with a distinctive elongate capsule. They matched accurately the principal nematocysts on the tentacles of the Cubomedusae (“sea-wasps” or “box-jellies”) Chironex fleckeri and Chiropsalmus quadrigatus. Further identification of the species of jellyfish on nematocyst structure has not as yet proved possible. The Portuguese man-of-war, Physalia, has no nematocysts which match those of the fatalities. It has no microbasic mastigophores, and its nematocysts (haplonemes) are spherical. The role of other medusae as possible agents for fatalities is discussed. As in Physalia there is no good evidence to support possible claims of other medusae as lethal species. The nature of the skin reaction in the weal is considered to be purely toxic; there is no histological evidence that the reaction is anaphylactic. The possible medico-legal significance of these results is discussed. It is considered that histopathological study and examination of the attached nematocysts in skin weals will be of medico-legal help in persons suspected of having died from a jellyfish sting.
Год издания: 1960
Авторы: C. W. Kingston, R. V. Southcott
Издательство: Oxford University Press
Источник: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Ключевые слова: Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology, Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
Другие ссылки: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (HTML)
PubMed (HTML)
PubMed (HTML)
Открытый доступ: closed
Том: 54
Выпуск: 4
Страницы: 373–384