Irukandji jellyfish: Difference between revisions
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==Range== |
==Range== |
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Irukandji jellyfish were at one time thought to be in the northern waters of Australia only. Since then, according to a National Geographic documentary<ref name=NG>{{cite video|author=National Geographic|title=Jellyfish Invasion|url=http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/jellyfish-invasion/}}</ref> on jellyfish, the species has been found in waters as far north as the British Isles, Japan, and the Florida<ref name=NG>{{cite journal|author=James D Grady, MD|title=Irukandji-like syndrome in South Florida divers |journal=Annals of Emergency Medicine |volume=42 |issue=6 |pages=763-766 |year=2003 |month=December |doi=doi:10.1016/S0196-0644(03)00513-3|url=http://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(03)00513-4/abstract}}</ref> |
Irukandji jellyfish were at one time thought to be in the northern waters of Australia only. Since then, according to a National Geographic documentary<ref name=NG>{{cite video|author=National Geographic|title=Jellyfish Invasion|url=http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/jellyfish-invasion/}}</ref> on jellyfish, the species has been found in waters as far north as the British Isles, Japan, and the Florida<ref name=NG>{{cite journal|author=James D Grady, MD|title=Irukandji-like syndrome in South Florida divers |journal=Annals of Emergency Medicine |volume=42 |issue=6 |pages=763-766 |year=2003 |month=December |doi=doi:10.1016/S0196-0644(03)00513-3|url=http://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(03)00513-4/abstract}}</ref> coast of the United States. |
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coast of the United States. |
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==Biology== |
==Biology== |
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Revision as of 17:56, 19 May 2013
Irukandji jellyfish (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˌɪrəˈkændʒi/ IRR-ə-KAN-jee) are tiny and extremely venomous jellyfish that inhabit marine waters of Australia[1] and which are able to fire their stingers into their victim, causing symptoms collectively known as Irukandji syndrome. Its size is roughly no larger than a cubic centimetre (1 cm3). There are two known species of Irukandji: Carukia barnesi and the recently discovered Malo kingi.[2]
The symptoms of Irukandji syndrome were first documented by Hugo Flecker[3] in 1952 and named after the Irukandji people whose country stretches along the coastal strip north of Cairns, Queensland.[4] The first of these jellyfish, Carukia barnesi, was identified in 1964 by Jack Barnes; in order to prove it was the cause of Irukandji syndrome, he captured the tiny jelly and allowed it to sting himself; his son and a life guard observed the effects.[5]
Range
Irukandji jellyfish were at one time thought to be in the northern waters of Australia only. Since then, according to a National Geographic documentary[6] on jellyfish, the species has been found in waters as far north as the British Isles, Japan, and the Florida[6] coast of the United States.
Biology
Irukandji jellyfish are very small with a bell about 5 millimetres (0.20 in) to 25 millimetres (0.98 in) wide (or wider) and four long tentacles, which range in length from just a few centimeters up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length.[7] The stingers (nematocysts) are in clumps, appearing as rings of small red dots around the bell and along the tentacles.[7]
Very little is known about the life cycle and venom of Irukandji jellyfish. This is partly because they are too small and fragile requiring special handling and containment.[1] Its venom is very powerful, 100 times as potent as that of a cobra and 1,000 times as potent as that of a tarantula. Researchers conjecture that its venom possesses such potency to enable it to quickly stun its prey, which consists of small and fast fish. Judging from statistics, it is believed that the Irukandji syndrome may be produced by several species of jellyfish, but only Carukia barnesi and Malo kingi have so far been proven to cause the condition.[8]
Sting
The average jellyfish has stingers only on its tentacles, but the Irukandji also has stingers on its bellpiece. Biologists have yet to discover the purpose of this unique characteristic. The hypothesis is that the feature enables the jellyfish to be more likely to catch its prey of small fish.
Irukandji jellyfish differ from other box jellyfish species in that they have the ability to fire stingers from the tips and inject venom. Currently, it is not known whether this is for some special purpose.[9]
Irukandji syndrome
Irukandji syndrome is produced by a small amount of venom and includes severe pains at various parts of the body (typically excruciating muscle cramps in the arms and legs, severe pain in the back and kidneys, a burning sensation of the skin and face), headaches, nausea, restlessness, sweating, vomiting, an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and psychological phenomena such as the feeling of impending doom.[10] The syndrome is in part caused by release of catecholamines.[7] The venom contains a sodium channel modulator.[7]
The sting is moderately irritating; the severe syndrome is delayed for 5–120 minutes (30 minutes on average). The symptoms range from hours to weeks, and victims usually require hospitalisation. As with other box jellyfish, vinegar will deactivate unfired nematocysts on the skin but has no effect on the venom already in the body.[11] Treatment is symptomatic, with antihistamines and anti-hypertensive drugs used to control inflammation and hypertension; intravenous opiates, such as morphine and fentanyl, are used to control the pain.[11] Magnesium sulfate has been used to reduce pain and hypertension in Irukandji syndrome,[12] although it has had no effect in other cases.[13]
Irukandji are usually found near the coast, attracted by the warmer water, but blooms have been seen as far as five kilometres offshore. When properly treated, a single sting is normally not fatal, but two people in Australia are believed to have died from Irukandji stings in 2002,[14][15][16] greatly increasing public awareness of Irukandji syndrome. It is unknown how many other deaths from Irukandji syndrome have been wrongly attributed to other causes. It is also unknown which jellyfish species can cause Irukandji syndrome apart from Carukia barnesi and Malo kingi.[17]
References
- ^ a b Irukandji Jellyfish website.
- ^ Gershwin, Lisa-Ann. "Malo kingi: A new species of Irukandji jellyfish (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Carybdeida), possibly lethal to humans, from Queensland, Australia". Retrieved 2010-07-23.
- ^ Pearn JH (1990). Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 14. Melbourne University Press. pp. 182–4. ISBN 0-522-84717-X.
- ^ Flecker, Hugo (1952-07-19). "Irukandji sting to North Queensland bathers without production of weals but with severe general symptoms". The Medical journal of Australia. 2 (3): 89–91. ISSN 0025729. PMID 14956317.
{{cite journal}}: Check|issn=value (help) - ^ Barnes J (1964). "Cause and effect in Irukandji stingings". Med J Aust. 1: 897–904. PMID 14172390.
- ^ a b National Geographic. Jellyfish Invasion. Cite error: The named reference "NG" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c d Tibballs J (2006). "Australian venomous jellyfish, envenomation syndromes, toxins and therapy". Toxicon. 48 (7): 830–59. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.07.020. PMID 16928389.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Barnes, J H (1964-06-13). "Cause And Effect In Irukandji Stingings". The Medical journal of Australia. 1: 897–904. ISSN 0025729. PMID 14172390.
{{cite journal}}: Check|issn=value (help) - ^ Killer Jellyfish OASIS HD, television.
- ^ Carrette, Teresa; Seymour, Jamie. "Jellyfish responsible for causing Irukandji syndrome" (PDF). James Cook University. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ a b Greenland P, Hutchinson D, Park T (2006). "Irukandji Syndrome: what nurses need to know". Nurs Health Sci. 8 (1): 66–70. doi:10.1111/j.1442-2018.2006.00255.x. PMID 16451431.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Corkeron M, Pereira P, Makrocanis C (2004). "Early experience with magnesium administration in Irukandji syndrome". Anaesth Intensive Care. 32 (5): 666–9. PMID 15535491.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Little M (2005). "Failure of magnesium in treatment of Irukandji syndrome". Anaesth Intensive Care. 33 (4): 541–2. PMID 16119507.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Fenner, Peter J (2002-10-07). "Fatal envenomation by jellyfish causing Irukandji syndrome". The Medical journal of Australia. 177 (7): 362–3. ISSN 0025729. PMID 12358578.
{{cite journal}}: Check|issn=value (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Hope for lethal jellyfish cure". BBC News. 2003-01-31. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
- ^ Wendy Lewis (2007). See Australia and Die. New Holland. ISBN 978-1-74110-583-4.
- ^ Seymour, Jamie; Carrette, Teresa. "Identification of cubozoans responsible for causing Irukandji syndrome". James Cook University. Retrieved 2 October 2011.