Was interested to check this myself. From the Australian Museum website:
Quote:
Do white-tailed spiders cause the skin condition known as necrotising arachnidism?
There is an ongoing debate among toxicologists and spider biologists about the effects and dangers of white-tailed spider bites. Most of these bites appear to cause little or no effect beyond transient local pain. However a small number of cases do cause more extensive problems. Whether this is a result of the spiders' venom or to bacteria infecting the wound at or after the time of the bite has not yet been resolved. It is also possible that some people may react badly to white-tailed spider bite, possibly because of immune system susceptibility or a predisposing medical condition.
References
- Meier, J. & White, J. (1995) Handbook of Clinical Toxicology. CRC Press, Florida USA.
- Whitehouse, R. (ed.) (1991) Australia's Dangerous Creatures, Readers Digest Pty Ltd, Surry Hills NSW.
- Sutherland, S. & Sutherland, J. (1999) Venomous Creatures of Australia, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.
- Isbister,G. & Greay,M. (2000). "Acute and recurrent skin ulceration after spider bite" Medical Journal of Australia 172, 20 March 2000, pp.303-304
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