Envenomation by Mediterranean Black Latmodectus Tresecimguttas (Aranaee: Therididae) in Albania: Hospital Cases Studies and Local Meanings
Abstract
True widowed spiders, Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805, contains 35 species around the world, nine found in Europe. Latrodectus Tresecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790), known as the Mediterranean black widow, written in Albania. This spider medical causes due to the power neurotoxin α-latrotoxin, which can threaten life when not left. An intensive study was held in 2024, collecting data from a decade of clinical cases of spider bites in western Albania. About 238 hospitalized cases were collected, representing 9.92 cases per million populations, with data in demographics and hospitals. However, no one was killed in hospital wards, other than a death found from the discussion with the medical staff in Lushnje District. Besides, a comprehensive question was held in the same places in May and June 2024 to know knowledge and care about Mediterranean black widows in the local population. The survey includes answers from 532 people. The results show different levels of knowledge and preparation of population, emphasizing gaps of knowledge and control of deeds. In addition, many field tasks are made to search for L. Tresecimguttatus in areas and villages with a higher number of bites. The results show that the local divjakë’s local population is at high risk because of the large amount of black mediterranean plants. While the public health effect on L. Tresecimguttatus has not been fully investigated in Albania, our Western Form Observations provide important recommendations for the local community.
