Octopus Envenomation 

  • Author: Jon Mark Hirshon, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM   more...
 
Updated: Jun 20, 2011
 

Background

Octopuses, which are organisms of the class Cephalopoda in the phylum Mollusca, are generally harmless and unlikely to be aggressive unless provoked.

Their bites are rarely life threatening, except for the bite of the greater blue-ringed octopus, Hapalochlaena lunulata and the southern blue-ringed octopus (also known as the Australian spotted octopus) Hapalochlaena maculosa, which are found in coastal waters and tide pools around Australia and other Western Pacific tidal pools.[1, 2] A third species, the blue-lined octopus Hapalochlaena fasciata, has also been described. These octopuses grow up to 20 cm in length with tentacles extended. They are normally light-colored with dark brown bands and blue rings or patches. When disturbed, their bodies darken, and the blue circles turn iridescent blue. Their venom can be released into the water to paralyze their prey, but its effects on humans primarily occur by injection of the venom upon biting.[3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

The blue-ringed octopus is shown below.

Blue-ringed octopus. Image courtesy of Simon DubbiBlue-ringed octopus. Image courtesy of Simon Dubbin.
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Pathophysiology

There are many fractions in the venom secreted from the salivary glands of the blue-ringed octopus, one of which is identical to tetrodotoxin. This substance blocks voltage-gated fast sodium channel conduction, blocking peripheral nerve conduction, which can lead to paralysis and death from respiratory failure. Nerve conduction studies in tetrodotoxin-poisoned (puffer fish) persons have demonstrated reduced motor and sensory conduction velocities consistent with inhibition of sodium currents at the node of Ranvier.[8] Reported central nervous system effects of tetrodotoxin in humans have included nausea and emesis, miosis, diabetes insipidus, and depressed cortical activity.

Other fractions of the venom include 5-hydroxytryptamine, hyaluronidase, tyramine, histamine, tryptamine, octopamine, taurine, acetylcholine, and dopamine.[9]

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Epidemiology

Frequency

United States

The blue-ringed octopus does not naturally dwell in the coastal waters of the US.

International

Rare cases of octopus envenomation occur in the Indo-Pacific region.

Mortality/Morbidity

Mortality is rare. Full recovery is expected when appropriate measures are undertaken.

Age

Individuals bitten by a blue-ringed octopus would have to be old enough and mobile enough to be able to walk or swim in the tide pools and coastal waters of Australia.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Jon Mark Hirshon, MD, MPH  Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Jon Mark Hirshon, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Public Health Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Dana A Stearns, MD  Assistant Director of Undergraduate Education, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital

Dana A Stearns, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine and American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD  Regional Director of Pharmacy, Sacred Heart and St Joseph's Hospitals

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

James Steven Walker, DO, MS  Clinical Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

James Steven Walker, DO, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, and American Osteopathic Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM  Associate Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School; Medical Director, WeCare Med, Inc

Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References
  1. Walker DG. Survival after severe envenomation by the blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena maculosa). Med J Aust. Dec 10-24 1983;2(12):663-5. [Medline].

  2. Flachsenberger WA. Respiratory failure and lethal hypotension due to blue-ringed octopus and tetrodotoxin envenomation observed and counteracted in animal models. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1986-87;24(6):485-502. [Medline].

  3. Kizer KW. Marine envenomations. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1983-84;21(4-5):527-55. [Medline].

  4. Auerbach PS. Marine envenomations. N Engl J Med. Aug 15 1991;325(7):486-93. [Medline].

  5. McGoldrick J, Marx JA. Marine envenomations. Part 2: Invertebrates. J Emerg Med. Jan-Feb 1992;10(1):71-7. [Medline].

  6. Nimorakiotakis B, Winkel KD. Marine envenomations. Part 2--Other marine envenomations. Aust Fam Physician. Dec 2003;32(12):975-9. [Medline].

  7. Fernandez I, Valladolid G, Varon J, Sternbach G. Encounters with venomous sea-life. J Emerg Med. Jan 2011;40(1):103-12. [Medline].

  8. Oda K, Araki K, Totoki T, et al. Nerve conduction study of human tetrodotoxication. Neurology. May 1989;39(5):743-5. [Medline].

  9. Watters MR, Stommel EW. Marine Neurotoxins: Envenomations and Contact Toxins. Curr Treat Options Neurol. Mar 2004;6(2):115-123. [Medline].

  10. Chang FCT, Spriggs DL, Benton BJ, et al. 4-Aminopyridine reverses saxitoxin (STX)- and tetrodotoxin (TTX)- induced cardiorespiratory depression in chronically instrumented guinea pigs. Fundam Appl Toxicol. Jul 1997;38(1):75-88. [Medline].

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Blue-ringed octopus. Image courtesy of Simon Dubbin.
 
 
 
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