PROJECT INTRODUCTION

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=115 BGCOLOR="#66CCCC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03500730ezvthe.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CCFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>The wonders of the weeverfish ( T.vipera )</B></FONT><B>|   </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wonders of the Weeverfish (Trachinus vip"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="wonders_of_the_weeverfish_trachinus_vipera_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND PROJECT "><U>   ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND PROJECT  </U></A>   |   <B>PROJECT INTRODUCTION    </B>   |   <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SUMMARY"><U>SUMMARY</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DISCUSSION"><U>DISCUSSION</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Author."><U>Contact Author.</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Light Microscopy"><U>Light Microscopy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Electron Micrographs"><U>Electron Micrographs</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OVERVIEW"><U>OVERVIEW</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Medical Treatment"><U>Medical Treatment</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#66CCCC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="036c8212ezvthe.gif"> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photographs"><U>Photographs</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photographs"><U><IMG SRC="06471530.jpg" border=0 width="113" height="83" ALT="Electronmicrographs link" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>.</div> <div> <A HREF="wonders_of_the_weeverfish_trachinus_vipera_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND PROJECT "><U>   ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND PROJECT  </U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=365 BGCOLOR="#66CCCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>PROJECT INTRODUCTION    </B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U> INTRODUCTION</U></B></I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> "Cruel spines defend some fishes, as the Goby fond</div> <div> Of sands and rocks, the scorpion, swallows fleet, </div> <div> Dragons and Dog fish, from their prickly mail</div> <div>  well named the spinous. These in the punctures sharp, </div> <div> A fatal poison from their spines inject."  (Oppian)</div> <bR> <div> There are four species of weever fish belonging to the family Trachinidae, all contain the venomous spines, the toxicity of which varies between the individual species, with the Lesser weever (<I><B>Trachinus vipera</B></I>) the most toxic of all. Members of the Trachinidae family can be found from the North sea on the shores of Northwest Africa and throughout the whole of the Mediterranean sea and the black sea. There are three other species of weever: <I>Trachinus draco, </I>the great weever; <I>Trachinus radiatus </I>and <I>Trachinus araneus, </I>the last two are collectively known as the southern weevers.</div> <bR> <div> Although the first documented study of the venom and associated structures of the weever fish family (Trachinidae) wasn't until 1840 (this was my Allman). The venomous nature of the weever was known about as far back as 50 AD in the "Greek Herbal" of Discorides (circa 50 AD.) (translated by gunther 1934). Under the subject Drakon Thalassois (T<I>rachinus draco</I>) is written:</div> <bR> <div>          "The sea dragon, being opened and soe applied is a cure for ye hurt</div> <div> doone by his prickles"  </div> <bR> <div> Indicating that the venomous nature of the Trachinus family was known about, whether this cure actually works is as yet unproved. The poet Oppian, (as quoted by Drummond (1840)) actually wrote poems about fish with spines including the members of the Weever family. Although in this poem he groups the weevers under a different name (Dragons) and includes other fish that do not process a venom of any kind.</div> <bR> <div> The presence of venom considered to be a virus before 1840, was thought by the vast majority of scientists to be confined to the dorsal spines of the fish. It wasn't until Allman (1840) had the misfortune of being stung by the Opercular spine of the fish and recording the reaction that followed, that this theory was questioned. Allman wrote in a letter dated August 20 1840,</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> "On the 9th August 1839, I was wounded near the top of the thumb by <I>Trachinus vipera,</I> which had just taken in a seine of herrings, sand eels & co. The wound was inflicted by the spine attached to the gill covers  during my  attempt to  seize the fish"</div> <bR> <div> He then goes on to describe the pain sensation and symptoms experienced in the hand and wrist. Contained within the letter is a short description of the Opercular spine. Allman (1840) found the spine was grooved from the tip to the posterior edge of the bony part of the operculum. He also found a small pulpy mass which he suggested could possibly be of a glandular nature. Many scientists since have described the Opercular spine varying in detail but all essentially agreeing on the grooved structure and the presence of the small pulpy mass and in some cases describing this in detail with regards to position and structure. Parker (1888) describes the structure of the glands and possible method of venom delivery in two species of weever fish, <I><B>T.draco </B></I>and <I><B>T.vipera</B></I>.</div> <bR> <div> In his paper he suggests that a possible method of venom delivery is that the cells simply burst and their contents pass up the groove in the spine to the exterior. This idea of the cells bursting is also mentioned by Skeie (1962) who describes these glands in detail. He also describes the secretion of toxin as that of the Holocrine type (without a venom duct, toxin passes directly from the cells to the spinal groove). The cellular contents were exuded as a "crude toxin which distinctly presented itself as a granular, stainable pulp.</div> <bR> <div> In another paper Skeie (1962b) concentrates on the venom itself, mentioning that the toxicity of the secretion removed from the venom glands was varied having a toxicity between 2000 and 10.000 DML (number of lethal doses for mice) per ml when injected intravenously on white mice weighing between 16-18 grams. (Skeie:1962b) He further goes on to mention that generally speaking the venom of the weever has a similar toxicity to various species of common viper, <I>Vipera aspis, Vipera ammodytes </I>and <I>Vipera berus.</I></div> <bR> <div> The venom of the weever consists of 3 main consituates: Proteins,  Carbohydrates and Lipids. Skeie (1962b) found that only a small fraction of the protein contained toxic properties and also showed that an anti-venom could be developed because survival test animals such as rabbits and mice showed signs of being immune to the toxin after treatment.</div> <bR> <div> Studies have been carried out since 1962 on the structure and function of the venom glands on all members of the weever fish family. These scientists have found the same structures. Venom studies have also confirmed the previous work, only deferring in the techniques and use of different test animals.</div> <bR> <div> The first time weever fish anti-venom was produced in sufficient quantities for general use, was in 1968. Since this time anti-venom has been manufactured in the Institute for the Control and Research of Immuno-biological substances, by Dr.Dubravka Matic-Piantanida. The use of such an anti-venom is confined to those patients who have reacted unfavourably to the normal treatment of bathing the wound in hot water.</div> <bR> <div> The aim of this study is to investigate the structure of the venom apparatus and method of venom delivery in <I>T.vipera</I> associated with the opercular spine of the species.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>why not try some of these links :</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trachinidae Family"><U><B>Trachinidae  Family</B></U></A><B>   </B><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DISCUSSION"><U><B>DISCUSSION</B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="id87.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Marine Environments"><U><B>Marine Environments</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B> <iframe width="120" height="243" scrolling="no" frameborder=0 src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=wondersofthewe0e&l=st1&search=Marine%20Biology&mode=books-uk&p=31&o=2&f=ifr&lt1=_blank"> <table border='0' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='120' height='243'><tr><td><A HREF='http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/redirect-home/wondersofthewe0e' target=_blank ><img src="http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/G/02/associates/recommends/default_120x243.gif" width=120 height=243 border="0" access=regular></a></td></tr></table></iframe>  </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Cannot decide then why not ask the bookworm for an index to the site.</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SITE INDEX"><U><IMG SRC="3128bd30.jpg" border=0 width="139" height="211" ALT="SITE INDEX LINK" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>