Villas-Boas Isadora Maria, Bonfá Giuliano, Tambourgi Denise V
Immunochemistry Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Immunochemistry Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Toxicon. 2018 Oct;153:39-52. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.08.007. Epub 2018 Aug 24.
Envenomation by the larval or pupal stages of moths occurs when the victim presses their hairs. They penetrate the subcutaneous tissue, releasing toxins such as proteolytic enzymes, histamine and other pro-inflammatory substances. Cutaneous reactions, including severe pain, oedema and erythema are frequent local manifestations of caterpillar envenomation, but, in some cases, the reactions can evolve into vesicles, bullae, erosions, petechiae, superficial skin necrosis and ulcerations. Alternatively, some individual can develop allergic reactions, renal failure, osteochondritis, deformity and immobilization of the affected joints and intracerebral bleeding. Caterpillars produce venom to protect themselves from predators; contact with humans is accidental and deserves close attention. Their venoms have not been well studied, except for toxins from some few species. The present review brings together data on venomous caterpillars of moths, primarily addressing the available literature on diversity among the different families that cause accident in humans, the structures used in their defense, venom composition and clinical aspects of the envenomations. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of action of caterpillars' toxins may lead to the development of more adequate treatments.
当受害者挤压蛾的幼虫或蛹阶段的毛发时，就会发生蛾类幼虫或蛹的毒液注入。它们穿透皮下组织，释放出如蛋白水解酶、组胺和其他促炎物质等毒素。皮肤反应，包括剧痛、水肿和红斑，是毛虫毒液注入常见的局部表现，但在某些情况下，这些反应可能发展为水疱、大疱、糜烂、瘀点、浅表皮肤坏死和溃疡。另外，一些人可能会出现过敏反应、肾衰竭、骨软骨炎、受影响关节的畸形和固定以及脑出血。毛虫产生毒液以保护自己免受捕食者侵害；与人类的接触是偶然的，值得密切关注。除了少数几种毛虫的毒素外，它们的毒液尚未得到充分研究。本综述汇集了有关蛾类有毒毛虫的数据，主要探讨了关于在人类中引发事故的不同科之间的多样性、它们用于防御的结构、毒液成分以及毒液注入的临床方面的现有文献。了解毛虫毒素的分子作用机制可能会促成更适当治疗方法的开发。
