Spider Bite - Pathophysiology - Neurotoxic Venom

Neurotoxic Venom

The majority of spiders with serious bites possess a neurotoxic venom of some sort, though the specific manner in which the nervous system is attacked varies from spider to spider.

• Widow spider venom contains components known as latrotoxins, which cause the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, stimulating muscle contractions. This can affect the body in several ways, including causing painful abdominal cramps, as well as interfering with respiration, and causing other systemic effects.
• The venom of Australian funnel-web spiders and mouse spiders works by opening sodium channels, causing excessive neural activity which interferes with normal bodily function.
• The venom of Brazilian wandering spiders is also a potent neurotoxin, which attacks multiple types of ion channels In addition, the venom contains high levels of serotonin, making an envenomation by this species particularly painful.