Assessing the Efficacy of First-Aid Measures in Physalia sp. Envenomation, Using Solution- and Blood Agarose-Based Models
Stings from the hydrozoan species in the genus Physalia cause intense, immediate skin pain and elicit serious systemic effects. There has been much scientific debate about the most appropriate first aid for these stings, particularly with regard to whether vinegar use is appropriate (most current re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-04-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/9/5/149 |
| _version_ | 1811306187783667712 |
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| author | Christie L. Wilcox Jasmine L. Headlam Thomas K. Doyle Angel A. Yanagihara |
| author_facet | Christie L. Wilcox Jasmine L. Headlam Thomas K. Doyle Angel A. Yanagihara |
| author_sort | Christie L. Wilcox |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stings from the hydrozoan species in the genus Physalia cause intense, immediate skin pain and elicit serious systemic effects. There has been much scientific debate about the most appropriate first aid for these stings, particularly with regard to whether vinegar use is appropriate (most current recommendations recommend against vinegar). We found that only a small percentage (≤1.0%) of tentacle cnidae discharge during a sting event using an ex vivo tissue model which elicits spontaneous stinging from live cnidarian tentacles. We then tested a variety of rinse solutions on both Atlantic and Pacific Physalia species to determine if they elicit cnidae discharge, further investigating any that did not cause immediate significant discharge to determine if they are able to inhibit cnidae discharge in response to chemical and physical stimuli. We found commercially available vinegars, as well as the recently developed Sting No More® Spray, were the most effective rinse solutions, as they irreversibly inhibited cnidae discharge. However, even slight dilution of vinegar reduced its protective effects. Alcohols and folk remedies, such as urine, baking soda and shaving cream, caused varying amounts of immediate cnidae discharge and failed to inhibit further discharge, and thus likely worsen stings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:39:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-666129c05d91408bb8cbec903117743a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:39:58Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-666129c05d91408bb8cbec903117743a2022-12-22T02:53:55ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512017-04-019514910.3390/toxins9050149toxins9050149Assessing the Efficacy of First-Aid Measures in Physalia sp. Envenomation, Using Solution- and Blood Agarose-Based ModelsChristie L. Wilcox0Jasmine L. Headlam1Thomas K. Doyle2Angel A. Yanagihara3Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USADiscipline of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway H91 W5P7, IrelandDiscipline of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway H91 W5P7, IrelandDepartment of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USAStings from the hydrozoan species in the genus Physalia cause intense, immediate skin pain and elicit serious systemic effects. There has been much scientific debate about the most appropriate first aid for these stings, particularly with regard to whether vinegar use is appropriate (most current recommendations recommend against vinegar). We found that only a small percentage (≤1.0%) of tentacle cnidae discharge during a sting event using an ex vivo tissue model which elicits spontaneous stinging from live cnidarian tentacles. We then tested a variety of rinse solutions on both Atlantic and Pacific Physalia species to determine if they elicit cnidae discharge, further investigating any that did not cause immediate significant discharge to determine if they are able to inhibit cnidae discharge in response to chemical and physical stimuli. We found commercially available vinegars, as well as the recently developed Sting No More® Spray, were the most effective rinse solutions, as they irreversibly inhibited cnidae discharge. However, even slight dilution of vinegar reduced its protective effects. Alcohols and folk remedies, such as urine, baking soda and shaving cream, caused varying amounts of immediate cnidae discharge and failed to inhibit further discharge, and thus likely worsen stings.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/9/5/149marine envenomationPortuguese man o’ warbluebottlecnidariahydrozoafirst aidjellyfishsting |
| spellingShingle | Christie L. Wilcox Jasmine L. Headlam Thomas K. Doyle Angel A. Yanagihara Assessing the Efficacy of First-Aid Measures in Physalia sp. Envenomation, Using Solution- and Blood Agarose-Based Models Toxins marine envenomation Portuguese man o’ war bluebottle cnidaria hydrozoa first aid jellyfish sting |
| title | Assessing the Efficacy of First-Aid Measures in Physalia sp. Envenomation, Using Solution- and Blood Agarose-Based Models |
| title_full | Assessing the Efficacy of First-Aid Measures in Physalia sp. Envenomation, Using Solution- and Blood Agarose-Based Models |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the Efficacy of First-Aid Measures in Physalia sp. Envenomation, Using Solution- and Blood Agarose-Based Models |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the Efficacy of First-Aid Measures in Physalia sp. Envenomation, Using Solution- and Blood Agarose-Based Models |
| title_short | Assessing the Efficacy of First-Aid Measures in Physalia sp. Envenomation, Using Solution- and Blood Agarose-Based Models |
| title_sort | assessing the efficacy of first aid measures in physalia sp envenomation using solution and blood agarose based models |
| topic | marine envenomation Portuguese man o’ war bluebottle cnidaria hydrozoa first aid jellyfish sting |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/9/5/149 |
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