Report of Stingings by the Sea Anemone Triactis Producta Klunzinger from Red Sea

Abstract

The sea anemone Triactis producta Klunzinger is an inhabitant of the Red Sea. A clinical case history of a stinging by T. producta which occurred at Eilat, Gulf of Aqaba, Israel, is herein reported. The symptoms consisted mainly of pain and swelling of the affected Limb and the production of a pigmented, papular lesion, which became encrusted and indurated and remained sensitive to touch for a period of about 5 weeks. This species is one of the more dangerous species of venomous sea anemones. Aqueous extracts of the crude toxin obtained from undischarged tentacle nematocysts tested by injection in mosquito fish (Gambusia) were found to be stable to drying, room temperatures, several organic solvents and boiling for variable periods of time. This is the first report to appear in the literature on the venomous properties of this sea anemone.