ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2012
Premolis semirufa (Walker, 1856) envenomation, disease affecting rubber tappers of the Amazon: searching for caterpillar-bristles toxic components.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- IL-1β as an important mediator of macrophage-chondrocyte crosstalk in pararamosis (rainforest arthritis).Frontiers in immunology · 2026Article
- Complement-mediated and direct activation of human neutrophils induced byFrontiers in immunology · 2025Article
- Pararamosis, a Neglected Tropical Disease Induced byInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2024Article
- Complement System Inhibition Modulates the Inflammation Induced by the Venom ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2022Article
- Article
- Integrative multiomics analysis of Premolis semirufa caterpillar venom in the search for molecules leading to a joint disease.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- Partial proteomic analysis of brown widow spider (Toxicon: X · 2020Article
- Caterpillar Venom: A Health Hazard of the 21st Century.Biomedicines · 2020Review
- News Feature: Venom back in vogue as a wellspring for drug candidates.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2020Article
- Human Chondrocyte Activation by Toxins FromFrontiers in immunology · 2020Article
- A review on Respiratory allergy caused by insects.Bioinformation · 2018Article
- Population Explosions of Tiger Moth Lead to Lepidopterism Mimicking Infectious Fever Outbreaks.PloS one · 2016Article
- A serine protease isolated from the bristles of the Amazonic caterpillar, Premolis semirufa, is a potent complement system activator.PloS one · 2015Article
- Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe caterpillar of the moth Premolis semirufa (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), commonly named Pararama, is endemic of the Amazon basin. Accidental contact with these caterpillar bristles causes local symptoms such as intense heat, pain, edema and itching which last for three to seven days; however, after multiples contacts, it may induce joint-space narrowing and bone alteration, as well as degeneration of the articular cartilage and immobilization of the affected joints. Specific treatment for this disease does not exist, but corticosteroids are frequently administered. Despite of the public health hazard of Premolis semirufa caterpillar poisoning, little is known about the nature of the toxic components involved in the induction of the pathology. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL
findingsHere we have investigated the biological and immunochemical characteristics of the caterpillar's bristles components. Analysis of the bristles extract in in vitro assays revealed the presence of proteolytic and hyaluronidase activities but no phospholipase A(2) activity. In vivo, it was observed that the bristles extract is not lethal but can induce an intense inflammatory process, characterized by the presence of neutrophils in the paw tissues of injected mice. Furthermore, the bristles components stimulated an intense and specific antibody response but autoantibodies such as anti-DNA or anti-collagen type II were not detected.
conclusionThe results suggest that Premolis semirufa caterpillar bristles secretion contains a mixture of different enzymes that may act together in the generation and development of the clinical manifestations of the Pararama envenomation. Moreover, the high immunogenicity of the caterpillar bristles components, as shown by the generation of high antibody titers, may also contribute to the induction and establishment of the inflammatory disease.
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