One Linuche mystery solved: All 3 stages of the coronate scyphomedusa Linuche unguiculata cause seabather's eruption

Background: Seabather's eruption (SBE) is a highly pruritic dermatosis affecting swimmers and divers in marine waters off Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Its cause has been attributed to various organisms but recently to the larvae of the schyphomedusa, Linuche unguiculat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 44; no. 4; pp. 624 - 628
Main Authors Segura-Puertas, Lourdes, Ramos, Maria E., Aramburo, Carlos, Heimer de la Cotera, Edgar P., Burnett, Joseph W.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.04.2001
Elsevier
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child, Preschool
Cnidarian Venoms - poisoning
Dermatology
Female
Humans
Life Cycle Stages
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Pruritus - etiology
Scyphozoa - growth & development
Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous - etiology
Skin involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous. General aspects
Swimming
Caribbean Sea
Human
Skin disease
Jellyfish
Contact dermatitis
Larva
Bathing
Seawater
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Summary:Background: Seabather's eruption (SBE) is a highly pruritic dermatosis affecting swimmers and divers in marine waters off Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Its cause has been attributed to various organisms but recently to the larvae of the schyphomedusa, Linuche unguiculata. Objective: We attempted to determine whether immature and adult Linuche cause SBE. Methods: Episodes of SBE in the Cancun and Cozumel area of the Mexican Caribbean were evaluated during the season of high tourism (January-June). This time corresponds to the moments in the life cycle when the three swimming stages of L unguiculata—ephyrae, medusae, and larvae—can be sequentially observed. Our methods include (1) observations by divers, biologists, and students coinciding with stinging outbreaks and the onset of SBE; (2) serologic evaluation of individuals stung by L unguiculata; and (3) the demonstration of Linuche nematocysts on the affected skin. Results: All 3 swimming Linuche stages can cause SBE. Conclusion: The offending stages of Linuche can be identified by the cutaneous lesion's morphology and the time of year. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;44:624-8.)
ISSN:0190-9622
1097-6787
DOI:10.1067/mjd.2001.112345