Hysterocrates sp.

Bite report by Thomas Ulwembu

 

"After working with tarantulas for 14,5 years, it finally happened at 12th November 2006. By my own carelessness, the mature male managed to give me a nasty bite.

Down here a complete report about how the incident occurred and the results.

 

12 november, the start of the afternoon, I wanted to breed a couple of tarantulas. The breeding of a Ceratogryus bechuanicus couple and 2 Hysterocrates sp. couples were successful. I saved the third male for last, because he was showing signs of aggressiveness. Finally I had to pick this male, who was still in threat pose.

 

Usually I try to catch the tarantula with a small cup and introduce it to the female by placing it in her enclosure. I have used this method for years, so I didn't see any reason why I should do it a different way.

I made one huge mistake: the large pair of tweezers I usually use were unfindable so I used an ice cream stick; which I normally use for smaller tarantulas."

 

 

12:10:

"The moment I wanted to guide the male towards the small cup, I was thinking: "Hmmm, this stick is really small!" But still, I continued. Unfortunately for me, the male was faster than I was and he bit me right in my middle finger at the middle joint. Trying to shake the male off, doesn't work, but after a dozen of seconds he released his fangs and I shook him away from my hand. I placed the male back in his enclosure before I went downstairs.

Downstairs I put my hand under flowing water. Dagmar, my wife, placed a cup filled with 70% alcohol, which I used to dip my finger. This was quite difficult because my hand was shaking a lot and it was uncontrollable; I had to keep it still with my left hand. Different attempts of letting the wound bleed, failed. Just a few drops of blood came out of it. My wife asked: "What to do now?". I replied: "Well, nothing. It's no use. I will call with Richard Gallon to ask. Hysterocrates sp. is a kind of Eumenophorinae; a group of spiders that got quite potent venom. He warned me for cramps and possible throwing over." Immediately after the bite I took 2 anti-histamine tablets to prevent a possible allergic reaction to the venom.

The finger started to swell, it became double the size it usually is. There's a lot of pain at the spot of the bite and also in the other joints."

 

13:35:

"I can move my finger again, but the pain is getting worse. My face is starting to get a burned feelling, from under my nose onto my ears. My lower eye lids also burn."

 

13:55:

"Goose bumps allover my arms and back, I also feel quite cold. Aside from the pain in my finger, I don't feel bad or sick.

Later during the afternoon I started to feel a bit sick and I slept a bit on the couch."

 

19:00:

"My nose is still burning, the feeling spread out to my upper head. The finger is still a little swollen. I can't take any cold on the finger."

 

20:00:

"I just had my first cramp attack; my calf, shin and foot, all at the same time. Not pleasant..."

 

13th november 2006:
05:45:

"Yes, I'm still alive. During the night I had cramps at the right side of my back, right calf and right upper arm. My right hand and fingers hurt. I also got the feeling like I did really heavy work; muscle pain everywhere. My right hand is stiff. My jaw bones hurt and I just feel weak/dizzy."

 

09:50:

"After visiting my work and having to work a bit, I decided to call myself sick and go home again. I felt really sick; I almost threw over. The cramps in my right calf, shin and foot are continous.

During the trip back home I called my doctor; they asked me what I wanted to have because they are unknown with such bites. Pain killers, anti-inflammatory agents and muscle relaxers.

At the doctor I got everything except for muscle relaxers. They wanted to see how everything worked first. The fingers of my left hand were all crawled up because of the cramps. I made an appointment; I could call whenever it gets worse."

 

14:00:

"Cramps in my back, right calf, shin, foot and right hand."

 

16:50:

"After another cramp attack, I went back to the doctor. I got heavy muscle relaxers, under one condition: I had to get a tetanus injection and I had to test my blood. No problem, of course.

My blood pressure seemed all okay. During the visit my right shin got totally stuck so it was quite needed."

 

14th november 2006:

6:25

"Even though I'm sick, I'm already out of bed. I had a couple of cramp attacks during the night, in both calfs at the same time. It's really hard getting up to stretch myself; I got cramps in the muscle that controls the movement of your foot. To not bother my wife, I went downstairs. I've had trouble walking all day. It's like my calf muscles are too short. The muscle relaxers do their job well. It gives me a pleasant feeling. The only thing that bothers is the dizzyness I got. I walked against the door post a couple of times!"

 

15th November 2006:

"The first night without cramps, what a pleasure! Still, I got a lot of muscle pain and different joints still hurt. I walk like an old man. I feel like there's a lot of tension in the muscles which can cause cramps. The middle- and ring finger of the right hand are stiff. The joints still hurt. In mornings the hand is really stiff and needs some time to work fine again."

 

16th November 2006:

"After getting up I noticed the muscle relaxers do their job well. I got out of bed quite late but while getting out of bed my right femur got stuck. I started with the tablets immediately. Walking is still difficult. While grocery shopping with my wife, I had to ask her to walk more slowly. My whole body is stiff and I'm still dizzy."

 

19th November 2006:

"Last couple of days were without any major changes. The muscle relaxers still do their job, as long as I take 3 a day. The bitten joint is not as painfull anymore, but the middle and the joint at the base hurt even more. In the mornings the finger is really stiff and last night I even woke up because of the pain.

Tomorrow morning I will call the doctor to ask if I got the results from the blood test back and to check-up on my finger again."

 

20th November 2006:

"This morning I visited the doctor at 09:45. I asked for the blood results and it came out positive. Asides of a slight increase of white blood cells there's nothing to worry about. I told the doctor I start having cramps as soon as I stop taking the muscle relaxers. Also, the pain killers don't work as they should work. I got a new recipe of muscle killers, but I have to take half of the tablets. This kind of medicine can become very addictive.

The painkillers I got are different and are heavier. I hope these work. At this moment I can't do much with my right hand because of pain."

 

22nd November 2006:

"This morning I was stiff everywhere. Last night I forgot to take my medicine because I fell asleep on the couch. My middle finger is really painfull, all up into my hand. Lifting something is difficult; taking something from my pockets is even more difficult. I'm still dizzy."

 

23rd November 2006:
"This morning I woke up with the feeling like someone put his knees in my femurs. Last night I had cramps in both of my calfs. I called the doctor again. I have to call later again because it was too busy. I'm afraid I'm not done with the muscle relaxers any time soon."

 

Unfortunately the report stops here, due to placing it in the magazine.

 

References:

- The World Spider Calatogue by Dr. Norman Platnick

- own experience from the past and conversations with Richard Gallon

 

Used medication:

- Allergex (anti-histaminicum): 3 a day for the first 2 days

- Diclofenax (50 mg.): 3 a day until 20th November

- Diazepam (5 mg.): started with 20 whole tablets, then 10 to phase down

- Ibuprofen (600 mg.): 3 a day from 20th November

 

Thanks Thomas for letting me use your bite report!