An in-vitro examination of the effect of vinegar on discharged nematocysts of Chironex fleckeri

Welfare, Philippa, Little, Mark, Pereira, Peter, and Seymour, Jamie (2014) An in-vitro examination of the effect of vinegar on discharged nematocysts of Chironex fleckeri. Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, 44 (1). pp. 30-34.

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Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect acetic acid (vinegar) has on discharged nematocysts in a simulated sting from Chironex fleckeri.

Method: This research was performed in 2 parts:

1. C. fleckeri tentacles placed on amniotic membrane were electrically stimulated, and venom washings collected before and after application of vinegar. Lyophilised venom washings were run through a fast-performance protein liquid chromatography column to confirm the venom profile, with a quantitative measure of venom from each washing calculated using UNICORN (TM) software.

2. The toxicity of the washings was determined by application to human cardiomyocytes, with percentage of cell detachment providing a measure of cell mortality, and hence toxicity.

Results: Part 1: There was a 69 +/- 32% (F = 77, P < 0.001) increase in venom discharge after vinegar was applied compared to post electrical stimulation. Part 2: Venom collected after the administration of vinegar demonstrated the same toxicity as venom from electrically stimulated C. fleckeri tentacles and milked venom, causing cell mortality of 59 +/- 13% at 10 mu g ml(-1) compared to 57 +/- 10% and 65 +/- 7% respectively.

Conclusion: This in-vitro research suggests that vinegar promotes further discharge of venom from already discharged nematocysts. This raises concern that vinegar has the potential to do harm when used as first aid in C. fleckeri envenomation.

Item ID: 32959
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1833-3516
Keywords: jellyfish, envenomation, clinical toxicology, toxins, research, first aid
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Additional Information:

Two comments on this article were published with replies from the original authors. The links to the Table of Contents for the issues the following supplemental materials were published in can be found in the Related URLs field:

Gibbs, C.R., Corkeron, M., Blake, D.F. (June 2014) Vinegar and Chironex fleckeri stings [with reply by Welfare et al.]. Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine 44(2): pp. 102-103.

Yanagihara, A.A., Chen, J.J. (Sept 2014) The effect of vinegar on discharged nematocysts of Chironex fleckeri [with reply by Welfare et al.]. Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine 44(3): pp. 172-173.

Date Deposited: 30 Apr 2014 09:29
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences > 119999 Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9299 Other Health > 929999 Health not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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