Loxoscelism in the Transvaal, South Africa

Abstract
Bites by spiders of the genus Loxosceles have been implicated as a cause of necrotic arachnidism in the Transvaal. The identification and natural history of three species of Loxosceles common in the Transvaal, L. spinulosa, L. speluncarum and L. parrami, are discussed, the clinical symptoms of envenomation as observed both in human patients and in experimental animals are presented, and the histopathological appearance of the lesion, at different stages of its development, is described.