Pneumotoxic activity of crude venom and a cytolytic protein, PuTX-IVC, from a coelenterate, Physalia utriculus (blue bottle)

Envenomations by jellyfishes are a menace for beach-goers, fisherman and swimmers during summer months in coastal areas of the world, including Karachi, Pakistan. Accidental stings and envenomations in human results in spasms, utricaria, dermonecrosis and in extreme cases, cardiac and respiratory distress. The present communication describes the pneumotoxic activity of Physalia utriculus crude venom and a purified cytolysic protein, PuTx-IVC. Both crude venom and cytolysin induces mild to marked alteration of biochemical characteristics of pleural fluid, evident by elevation of total protein, albumin, globulin, and lactate dehydrogenase contents and broncho-dialatation and infiltration of inflammatory cells in alveoli of lungs. Results confirmed the onset of one of the most prominent clinical features of human jellyfish envenomations, which is respiratory distress. However, it is suggested that pneumotoxic activity of P. utriculus crude venom and the purified component, PuTx-IVC, may not be a direct one but a consequent manifestation created by internal haemolysis and hemorrhage of blood vessels, causing damage and blocking of heart ventricles and valves. This subsequently results in accumulation of fluid in pulmonary cavities, causing dyspnea (respiratory distress) and edema.