It is well known that there are no venomous snakes in the Dominican Republic. In fact, there are very few venomous insects at all. Yes, there are black and brown widow spiders, scorpions, centipedes and tarantulas, all of which are generally scarce. There are bullfrogs the exude a very toxic poison if attacked. And, up until now, that was about it, except for fire ants perhaps.
Now, the brown recluse spider is suspect to have arrived on a ship that docked in Monte Cristi after having been in Brazil. There is speculation merchandise arriving on wooden pallets from Brazil that was unloaded in Manzanillo, the Dominican Republic could have introduced the spider. At least 50 bites have been registered so far, mostly along the Northwest Line in the area or in Mao and Montecristi.
The spider is considered “medically important” since its bite causes necrosis of the area around the initial bite and can result in death.
The spider lives up to its name and is reclusive and hard to find. This explains why the majority of the cases reported have been Haitians and the bites have come, apparently, at night.
It is difficult to distinguish between a bite from the brown recluse and other infirmities such as lesions from diabetes, gangrene, or fungus infections.
Since the brown recluse produces what is commonly called a “skin-eating” syndrome, major tissue removal is the standard treatment.
Isabela Hernández Rodríguez, head of the Invasive Exotic Species Division of the Biodiversity Department at the Ministry of the Environment said a group of specialists from the Professor Eugenio de Jesús Marcano National Museum of Natural History will accompany them on a trip to the affected areas to collect a dead or alive spider at fault to verify and determine if a native arachnid species is at blame for the bites and the antidote to be used.
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Listin Diario
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
29 August 2022