Trial Assay for Safe First-Aid Protocol for the Stinging Sea Anemone <i>Anemonia viridis</i> (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) and a Severe Toxic Reaction
<i>Anemonia viridis</i> is an abundant and widely distributed temperate sea anemone that can form dense congregations of individuals. Despite the potential severity of its sting, few detailed cases have been reported. We report a case of a severe toxic reaction following an <i>A. v...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/14/1/27 |
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| author | Ainara Ballesteros Janire Salazar Macarena Marambio José Tena José Rafael García-March Diana López Clara Tellez Carles Trullas Eric Jourdan Corinne Granger Josep-Maria Gili |
| author_facet | Ainara Ballesteros Janire Salazar Macarena Marambio José Tena José Rafael García-March Diana López Clara Tellez Carles Trullas Eric Jourdan Corinne Granger Josep-Maria Gili |
| author_sort | Ainara Ballesteros |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Anemonia viridis</i> is an abundant and widely distributed temperate sea anemone that can form dense congregations of individuals. Despite the potential severity of its sting, few detailed cases have been reported. We report a case of a severe toxic reaction following an <i>A. viridis</i> sting in a 35-year-old oceanographer. She developed severe pain, itching, redness, and burning sensation, which worsened one week after treatment with anti-inflammatories, antihistamines and corticosteroids. Prompted by this event, and due to the insufficient risk prevention, lack of training for marine-environment users, and lack of research into sting-specific first-aid protocols, we evaluated the cnidocyst response to five different compounds commonly recommended as rinse solutions in first-aid protocols (seawater, vinegar, ammonia, baking soda, and freshwater) by means of the Tentacle Solution Assay. Vinegar and ammonia triggered an immediate and massive cnidocyst discharge after their application and were classified as activator solutions. Baking soda and freshwater were also classified as activator solutions, although with a lower intensity of discharge. Only seawater was classified as a neutral solution and therefore recommended as a rinse solution after <i>A. viridis</i> sting, at least until an inhibitory solution is discovered. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:24:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0311899f91144cc18417d3e9358141a2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:24:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-0311899f91144cc18417d3e9358141a22023-11-23T15:35:50ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512022-01-011412710.3390/toxins14010027Trial Assay for Safe First-Aid Protocol for the Stinging Sea Anemone <i>Anemonia viridis</i> (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) and a Severe Toxic ReactionAinara Ballesteros0Janire Salazar1Macarena Marambio2José Tena3José Rafael García-March4Diana López5Clara Tellez6Carles Trullas7Eric Jourdan8Corinne Granger9Josep-Maria Gili10ICM-CSIC-Institute of Marine Sciences, Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, SpainICM-CSIC-Institute of Marine Sciences, Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, SpainICM-CSIC-Institute of Marine Sciences, Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, SpainIMEDMAR-UCV-Institute of Environment and Marine Science Research, Universidad Católica de Valencia SVM, C. Explanada del Puerto S/n, Calp, 03710 Alicante, SpainIMEDMAR-UCV-Institute of Environment and Marine Science Research, Universidad Católica de Valencia SVM, C. Explanada del Puerto S/n, Calp, 03710 Alicante, SpainIMEDMAR-UCV-Institute of Environment and Marine Science Research, Universidad Católica de Valencia SVM, C. Explanada del Puerto S/n, Calp, 03710 Alicante, SpainIMEDMAR-UCV-Institute of Environment and Marine Science Research, Universidad Católica de Valencia SVM, C. Explanada del Puerto S/n, Calp, 03710 Alicante, SpainISDIN, Innovation and Development, C. Provençals 33, 08019 Barcelona, SpainISDIN, Innovation and Development, C. Provençals 33, 08019 Barcelona, SpainISDIN, Innovation and Development, C. Provençals 33, 08019 Barcelona, SpainICM-CSIC-Institute of Marine Sciences, Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain<i>Anemonia viridis</i> is an abundant and widely distributed temperate sea anemone that can form dense congregations of individuals. Despite the potential severity of its sting, few detailed cases have been reported. We report a case of a severe toxic reaction following an <i>A. viridis</i> sting in a 35-year-old oceanographer. She developed severe pain, itching, redness, and burning sensation, which worsened one week after treatment with anti-inflammatories, antihistamines and corticosteroids. Prompted by this event, and due to the insufficient risk prevention, lack of training for marine-environment users, and lack of research into sting-specific first-aid protocols, we evaluated the cnidocyst response to five different compounds commonly recommended as rinse solutions in first-aid protocols (seawater, vinegar, ammonia, baking soda, and freshwater) by means of the Tentacle Solution Assay. Vinegar and ammonia triggered an immediate and massive cnidocyst discharge after their application and were classified as activator solutions. Baking soda and freshwater were also classified as activator solutions, although with a lower intensity of discharge. Only seawater was classified as a neutral solution and therefore recommended as a rinse solution after <i>A. viridis</i> sting, at least until an inhibitory solution is discovered.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/14/1/27cnidarian venomcnidocyst dischargecnidocytemarine knowledgerisk preventionseawater |
| spellingShingle | Ainara Ballesteros Janire Salazar Macarena Marambio José Tena José Rafael García-March Diana López Clara Tellez Carles Trullas Eric Jourdan Corinne Granger Josep-Maria Gili Trial Assay for Safe First-Aid Protocol for the Stinging Sea Anemone <i>Anemonia viridis</i> (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) and a Severe Toxic Reaction Toxins cnidarian venom cnidocyst discharge cnidocyte marine knowledge risk prevention seawater |
| title | Trial Assay for Safe First-Aid Protocol for the Stinging Sea Anemone <i>Anemonia viridis</i> (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) and a Severe Toxic Reaction |
| title_full | Trial Assay for Safe First-Aid Protocol for the Stinging Sea Anemone <i>Anemonia viridis</i> (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) and a Severe Toxic Reaction |
| title_fullStr | Trial Assay for Safe First-Aid Protocol for the Stinging Sea Anemone <i>Anemonia viridis</i> (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) and a Severe Toxic Reaction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trial Assay for Safe First-Aid Protocol for the Stinging Sea Anemone <i>Anemonia viridis</i> (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) and a Severe Toxic Reaction |
| title_short | Trial Assay for Safe First-Aid Protocol for the Stinging Sea Anemone <i>Anemonia viridis</i> (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) and a Severe Toxic Reaction |
| title_sort | trial assay for safe first aid protocol for the stinging sea anemone i anemonia viridis i cnidaria anthozoa and a severe toxic reaction |
| topic | cnidarian venom cnidocyst discharge cnidocyte marine knowledge risk prevention seawater |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/14/1/27 |
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